Today I would like to talk about two topics. The first is the
establishment of a "Nuclear Safety Network" (provisional name).
Drawing on the lessons learned in the wake of the accident at the JCO
Tokai Power Plant, this new organization will deal with
safety-related issues and the promotion of a safety-conscious
corporate culture throughout the nuclear power industry. The second
topic I would like to discuss is the Y2K issue.
To begin with, let me explain the mission of the "Nuclear Safety Network". As I stated at the conference last month, we were deeply shocked by the accident at JCO, and by the lack of corporate ethics and safety awareness that it revealed -- a lack that would be inexcusable in any industry, let alone the nuclear power industry. As a result, we have encouraged the nuclear power industry to establish an organization that will work to improve information-sharing procedures and safety awareness at every level.
The FEPC's "JCO Accident Special Committee" created a preparation group within the nuclear power department on 25 October to assist in establishing the new organization. As a result, we were able to present a draft outline of the organization and its activities at the presidential meeting held earlier today. In addition, the draft outline has received unofficial approval from the companies and groups that are expected to participate.
Details of the plan are shown in Reference Document No. 1.
We intend to define this organization as a new, voluntary and independent group operated by the private sector. The name of the organization will be the "Nuclear Safety Network," or "NS Net" for short. It is designed so that companies and groups, as equal partners, can closely ally themselves and freely exchange information to increase awareness of the need for stringent safety at every level of the nuclear power industry. A chairman has not yet been selected, but it is my understanding that a number of learned individuals and candidates within nuclear industry who have a strong commitment to safety are under consideration. The membership of the organization will consist of 35 companies and research institutes engaged in the handling of nuclear fuel and radioactive waste, as well as electric power companies.
There are three major activities for which NS Net will be responsible. First of all, it will work to promote stringent safety measures throughout the industry. To this end, it will sponsor seminars, implement safety education and training programs, issue pamphlets and periodicals, and perhaps establish a website on the Internet. It will work closely with the Japan Atomic Industry Forum, Inc., the Japan Atomic Energy Relations Organization and the Atomic Energy Society of Japan in achieving these goals.
Second, it will implement a program of peer reviews. These will be similar in nature to the peer reviews conducted by WANO, in which teams composed of member companies visit one another's facilities, and exchange information on common themes such as organization, operation, education, training, radiation management and the like. I believe that a two-year period will be sufficient for peer review teams to cover all the plants slated for review.
Third, it will serve as a clearinghouse for troubleshooting information related to nuclear issues, and research results concerning the "human factor." This information will be made available to all members of NS Net via computer links to the database maintained by the Electric Power Industry Central Research Institute.
These, then are the activities currently envisioned for NS Net. In addition, we plan to establish an independent council that will review the activities of NS Net to ensure transparency, and avoid the pitfalls of self-satisfaction and complacency. The council is expected to consist of five or six members chosen from the ranks of academe, the press and other walks of life.
Our desire to establish this organization quickly means that preparation time has been short. As a result, there are no doubt a number of issues that still need to be addressed. I believe, however, that action is essential, and that the network's establishment should not be delayed while we discuss the finer points of organizational structure. Any areas in which the network is found to be inadequate can be addressed in the course of its ongoing activities.
Next week, we will establish an NS Net Start-Up Preparation Group consisting of representatives from the companies and agencies that will be participating. After that, a general meeting will be held the following month to officially launch NS Net.
Next, I would like to move on to a discussion of Y2K issues. Please see Reference Document No 2 for details.
Only a month and a half remain before the year 2000 begins. Each FEPC member company has prepared for the Y2K transition by reviewing its computer programs and systems, and repairing them as necessary. With the completion of tests at Shikoku Electric Power Company's Ikata Nuclear Power Station (No. 3) today, all Y2K preparation measures undertaken by the ten electric power companies, the Japan Atomic Power Company and the Electric Power Development Co., Ltd. have been completed. During the inspection period, software and microchips in approximately 467,000 business-related systems and 4600 control systems were examined.
I have often described our Y2K efforts with members of the press, and total of 23 open tests have been conducted by various electric power companies.
The most important point to remember regarding the electric power industry's Y2K efforts is that the computer systems we use to directly control the power supply do not rely on "date information" at any level -- all control operations are handled in real-time. Accordingly, I believe there is no threat that Y2K blackouts will occur.
The measures we have taken were discussed and approved by both the Review Committee on Electric Power Industry Y2K Activities and the Review Committee on Nuclear Power Plant Y2K Activities.
In view of these circumstances, I believe that there is no cause for anxiety or alarm, and that there will be no disruption of the nation's power supply system. Nonetheless, we are prepared to deal with any problems that do arise, and command centers at each electric company will be fully manned for the 31 December 1999 - 1 January 2000 transition period. Specific measures to be taken at power plants and transmission facilities have been mapped out, and as is explained in the reference materials, the number of workers at Japan's 12 electric power companies, including those on regular duty, will total approximately 17,000.
The FEPC itself will maintain a command center with a staff of approximately 30 workers who will monitor the situation at each electric company, and respond to domestic and foreign press inquiries via the Internet.