YEAR 2000: BUG COULD POSE MAJOR PROBLEM

[Kevin Goldsmith <kevin.goldsmith@wepco.com>]

*    YEAR 2000:  BUG COULD POSE MAJOR PROBLEM -- OP-ED; MORE   
     The Year 2000 computer problem could cause a "catastrophe"
at any of the world's 433 nuclear plants, writes Standing for  
Truth About Radiation Foundation Pres. Helen M. Caldicott in a 
Los Angeles Timesop-ed .                                        
     Caldicott writes that the federal government has dismissed 
concerns over possible serious nuclear accidents "while         
providing no substantive basis" for their confidence.  She says 
that in a White House meeting with Pres. Clinton's Y2K          
committee, all agreed that the old Soviet Union electrical grid 
has not been examined for Y2K problems "and will be in great    
danger in the new year."  She also expresses concerns over the  
4,400 nuclear warheads that are maintained on "hair-trigger"    
alert in both Russia and the US.                                
     On the domestic front, Caldicott criticizes the Nuclear    
Regulatory Commission for requiring only one week of diesel fuel
at each nuclear reactor site, even though power outages could   
last longer.  She outlines two solutions to help avert possible 
nuclear-related events: provide enough electricity from         
renewable sources to allow all nuclear plants to be taken       
offline leading up to and immediately after Jan. 1; and         
physically take the Russian and US strategic weapons off        
hair-trigger status (Aug. 17).                                  

kevin.goldsmith@wepco.com
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