I'd like to recommend that everyone read this special report about how Y2K will likely affect the Chemical Industry. It originally appeared in Chemical Engineering Magazine in their January 1999 Issue.

We have made it available on our site now (With Permission) www.millenniumfactor.com/headlines.htm

We would also be interested in publishing similar reports from other industry trade magazines.

Les Rayburn, director Millennium Factor: The Truth About Y2K

-- Les Rayburn (les@vazda.com), February 15, 1999

Answers

Millennium Factor: Y2K Headlines
Once again, thank you sir.

-- Sysman (y2kboard@yahoo.com), February 16, 1999.

If i had to guess from where a y2k `surprise` would come from the chemical industry would rank high, isn`t it true that *so* much depends upon having *precisely* the right chemicals available if you want to continue producing your product? I don`t know anything about the probabilities of y2k causing chemical plants to burn to the ground,..or oil refinies. Answers in global context please.

-- bud (bud@computers edge.com), February 16, 1999.

Bud, I see the main threat as whether the companies will stockpile sufficient pretreatment chemicals and arrange for adequate emergency generation (NOT natural gas), and whether monitoring systems will function. Also, I recall a thread somewhere in the archives about a commonly-used valve which the manufacturer expects to freeze in either the on or off position at rollover - sounds like just the sort of thing that could result in a major release.

The semi-good news is that EPA will not tolerate any post-2000 violations in the absence of extensive pre-2000 testing and contingency planning. The enforcement policy creates a real economic incentive (avoid massive civil and criminal fines) to straighten out before the rollover. However, EPA only has the resources to focus on a limited number of regulated companies, and as usual, the small to medium companies are the farthest behind. And of course, that doesn't help outside the US.

http://www.epa.gov/region04/air/enforce/y2kpolcy.htm

-- Brooks (brooksbie@hotmail.com), February 16, 1999.

Thanks for the link! <:)= EPA Link

-- Sysman (y2kboard@yahoo.com), February 16, 1999.