[DOE LETTERHEAD]

 

National Nuclear Security Administration

 

September 30, 2003

 

The Honorable John T. Conway

Chairman

Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board

625 Indiana Avenue, NW.

Suite 700

Washington, D.C. 20004

 

Dear Mr. Chairman:

 

The purpose of this letter is to report on the status of commitment 4.4.7 in the Implementation Plan for the Defense Nuclear Facility Safety Board Recommendation 98-2, “Accelerating Safety Management Improvements at the Pantex Plant.”

 

The commitment 4.4.7 requires the delivery and implementation of accelerated critical tooling for the W78 and. W88 weapon programs.  Critical tooling for the W78 has been incorporated into the W78 and is undergoing readiness reviews and a Nuclear Explosive Safety Study for approved use.  For the W88, the National Nuclear Security Administration approved the Nuclear Explosive Safety Study on September 5, 2003 (enclosed); the Pantex Site Office approved tooling implementation on September 8, 2003; the BWXT authorized operations on September 8, 2003; and operations commenced on September 9, 2003.  This correspondence transmits partial closure of this commitment.  Final closure will be met and reported in January 2004 when the W78 operations, using the new tooling, are approved.

 

If you have further questions, please call Mr. Marty Schoenbauer on 202-586-1730.

 

Sincerely,

 

David E. Beck

Assistant Deputy Administrator

for Military Application and

Stockpile Operations

Defense Programs

 

Enclosure

 

cc:

M. Whitaker, DR-1