The NRC denied the petition. Because the NRC is completely beholden to the nuclear industry, which, especially with electricity deregulation here or looming, doesn,t want to spend an extra dime on public safety matters if it doesn,t absolutely have to. And these days, the NRC is far more interested in saving utilities money than it is in doing its job of protecting the public health and safety. However, these do not entail a comprehensive set of actions to be carried out systematically by every operational nuclear power plant. At the same October 26 hearing a nuclear industry association spokesman assured the lawmakers the safety systems are all Y2K ready.
Safety is our top priority.
Additional personnel will be at nuclear power plants, back-up communications systems are available, and response strategies have been developed. Willemssen and Rhodes recommended to Congress that the NRC further evaluate Y2K preparations that have already been made, and ensure that plant emergency plans include Y2K scenarios. The NIRS and other nuclear activists are calling for a Y2K World Atomic Safety Holiday. Activists want all nuclear facilities to be off line for New Years 2000, be subject to strict criteria of Y2K compliance and be given robust backup power systems. All Rights Reserved.