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Enclosure 1 <br /> EPA's Y2K Enforcement Policy <br /> Summary. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announces today an <br /> enforcement policy designed to encourage prompt testing of computer-related equipment to <br /> ensure that environmental compliance is not impaired by the Year 2000 ("Y2K") computer bug. <br /> Under this policy, EPA states its intent to waive 100% of the civil penalties that might <br /> otherwise apply, and to recommend against criminal prosecution, for environmental violations <br /> caused during specific tests that are designed to identify and eliminate Y2K-related <br /> malfunctions. This policy is limited to testing-related violations disclosed to EPA by February <br /> 1, 2000, and it is subject to certain conditions, such as the need to design and conduct the tests <br /> well in advance of the dates in question, the need to conduct the tests for the shortest possible <br /> period of time necessary, the need to correct any testing-related violations immediately, and <br /> other conditions to ensure that protection of human health and the environment is not <br /> compromised. <br /> Background. The Y2K issue arises because a number of computerized functions require <br /> recognition of a specific year, day, and time, but many computers and computerized equipment <br /> recognize only the last two digits of a year's date (i.e., 1998 is 98; 2000 is 00). Therefore, <br /> when the calendar changes to the year 2000, computers and equipment with embedded computer <br /> chips may have difficulty interpreting the correct date. They may interpret the year to be 1900 <br /> or some other year. As a result, some computers and equipment containing embedded computer <br /> chips could become permanently unable to function properly. Others may continue to operate, <br /> but erroneously, while others simply may stop and need to be restarted. Some may create data <br /> that look correct, but in reality contain errors, and some may continue to operate correctly. In <br /> addition, some technical experts warn that certain computer-related systems may have trouble <br /> functioning properly on more than a dozen other dates arising over the next two years. For <br /> example, as to September 9, 1999, the digital representation of that date, 9/9/99 ("four 9s"), may <br /> be interpreted as the end of a file or infinity, and, thus, may have unintended consequences. This <br /> policy encompasses concerns over computer-related testing problems that may arise as a result of <br /> any of the dozen or more dates. Together, these dates are referred to as Y2K for purposes of this <br /> enforcement policy. <br /> Emphasis on Testing. . The public expects compliance with the nation's environmental <br /> laws, and the regulated community must take all steps necessary to anticipate and resolve <br /> potential environmental compliance problems that may result from Y2K-related equipment <br /> problems by the dates in question (e.g., 9/9/99 and 1/l/00). In an effort to ensure timely <br /> compliance, EPA has adopted this enforcement policy to encourage any necessary testing of <br /> E1-1 <br />