No Y2K Problems So Far at Environmentally Sensitive Sites; January 1 Passes Uneventfully at Water Treatment and Hazardous Chemical Sites; EPA to Remain Watchful Next Week

Business Wire, Jan 1, 2000

Business Editors/Government & Environment Writers

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which has been monitoring facilities dealing with hazardous chemicals, and wastewater and drinking water facilities in New York State, New Jersey, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, saw January 1, 2000 arrive without reported incidents or threats to human health or the environment. The agency will, however, remain watchful at the start of the coming work week in the event of Y2K-related problems at small and medium-sized businesses reopening on Monday after the holiday.

Of EPA Region 2's 236 federal Superfund sites, thousands of wastewater and drinking water treatment facilities and thousands of regulated corporate facilities using large amounts of hazardous chemicals, no Y2K-related problems have been identified. EPA Emergency Response and other key personnel, in cooperation with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, the Puerto Rico Environmental Quality Board, the Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources, and hundreds of local fire, police and emergency response stations, stand ready to respond to any Y2K problems that could arise over the weekend. Emergency response personnel will be on-hand to deal with any Y2K-related incidents early next week, should they arise.

"EPA is pleased to announce that while Americans were celebrating the New Year, their environment and health continued to be protected," said Jeanne M. Fox, EPA Regional Administrator. "Every community relies on wastewater treatment and drinking water facilities to protect its water supply and provide safe drinking water. Many communities also have facilities that contain toxic chemicals and hazardous waste. It was imperative that all of these facilities be prepared for the 2000 turnover on January 1, and thanks to the diligent work of our agency, our state partners and the companies and facilities we regulate, we have so far been able to avert any incidents. We hope that this positive trend continues next week."

EPA credits companies and facilities throughout the region for an uneventful passing into the new millennium because many followed the agency's request to test computerized equipment early and develop contingency plans in case of emergencies. EPA worked for several years to make its regulated community aware of potential Y2K issues, and two years ago, developed a Y2K enforcement policy geared specifically toward corporations and environmental facilities that serve the public. The enforcement policy encouraged facilities to test their computers and other equipment for Y2K compliance early, and announced that the agency would waive financial penalties and recommend against criminal prosecution for those companies that unintentionally committed environmental violations in the process of testing their computers - as long as a company could meet certain criteria. This policy was developed to remove any perceived barriers to testing on the part of corporations and other facilities. The regional EPA office also sent nearly 10,000 letters encouraging facilities to test for Y2K compliance, set up hotlines and web sites, made dozens of Y2K readiness presentations at industry conferences, and worked very closely with industry trade groups particularly the chemical manufacturing industry - to ensure that corporations took seriously their responsibility to protect the public and the environment from unnecessary harm.

A separate EPA media release will be sent out on or around Monday, January 3, 2000 providing details of any Y2K-related incidents occurring early in the work week.