(Y2K News Staff)  After a Navy document surfaced that predicted widespread utility failures in cities where military facilities are located, the Navy has re-stated its position.  A Naval official told reporters that "they do not think they have a problem with utilities."  A statement was issued that said "there are no indications of likely widespread failures of water, electricity, gas or sewers."

A news release from the Navy Office of Information said the database called "Master Utility List" that was analyzed on Jim Lord's website is "a work in progress that categorizes a likelihood of failure value for the Navy and over seas sites and based on ongoing local and Navy facilities engineering command assessment efforts."  The Navy says each site with a Navy or Marine Corps presence had the status of its electric, water, gas and sewer assigned a value to rate the likelihood of Y2K failure for future planning.

The Navy says the document was initially posted on a Navy web site July 22, and they say they removed it when they discovered that "individuals accessing the information were misrepresenting the data it contained and causing undue concern."  That version of the document indicated that failure was probable or likely in about 60 locations.  An August 19 version reduced that number to approximately 20.