[DOE LETTERHEAD]
May 19, 2003
The Honorable John T. Conway
Chairman
Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board
625 Indiana Avenue, NW, Suite 700
Washington, D.C. 20004-2901
Dear Mr. Chairman:
The purpose of this letter is to apprise you
of our progress toward implementing a cost-effective solution to existing
deficiencies with the Old HB-Line (facility) ventilation system. My last letter to you regarding this issue
was sent November 1, 2002, and was in response to your letter dated June 26,
2002.
First, automatic dampers will be installed
in the ventilation supply system by August 2003. The dampers will automatically throttle the facility ventilation
air supply to maintain negative pressure within a prescribed band with respect
to the H-Canyon.
Second, a project is being developed to
replace the facility exhaust ventilation system with new equipment located
within the H-Canyon building to eliminate the potential for unfiltered
ground-releases in the event of an exhaust ventilation system failure. I will keep you advised as this project
progresses.
Third, a remotely controlled robotic
crawler, fitted with cameras and lights, was inserted into the H-Canyon exhaust
tunnel and inspected approximately one-third of the tunnel in March 2003. Some deterioration of the concrete surface
of the tunnel was observed. The
facility exhaust duct appeared to be in sound condition, however, the duct was
unsupported in the inspected region of the tunnel (approximately 125 feet). The Department is still evaluating the results
of this inspection to determine if any further actions or inspections are
needed. The ducting is not required if
the previously discussed replacement project is implemented.
In addition, the Justification for Continued
Operations document, which was approved in June 2000 following discovery of the
facility exhaust ventilation deficiencies, is being incorporated into the
Documented Safety Analysis for H-Canyon.
The revised Safety Analysis will be approved by DOE in May 2003.
The preceding actions are intended to ensure
that SRS facilities continue to operate safely without undue risk to the
worker, the public, and the environment.
If you have any further questions, please
call me at (202) 586-7709 or Mr. Paul Golan, Chief Operating Officer, at (202)
586-0738.
Sincerely,
Assistant Secretary for
Environmental Management
cc:
Mark Whitaker, DR-1
Jeffrey Allison, SR