[DOE LETTERHEAD]

 

NATIONAL NUCLEAR SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

 

April 29, 2004

 

The Honorable John T. Conway

Chairman

Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board

625 Indiana Avenue, NW

Suite 700

Washington, D.C. 20004

 

Dear Mr. Chairman:

 

In your December 31, 2003, correspondence concerning the Oxide Conversion Facility at the Y-12 National Security Complex you asked to be kept informed of the site’s progress toward addressing various issues concerning weld quality assurance and the facility’s safety basis.  The enclosed correspondence from the Y-12 Site Office (YSO) provides you an update on their progress toward resolution of these issues.  In addition, follow-up discussions with your staff have been productive in clarifying issues and working toward resolution of issues.  As noted in the attachment further work is necessary to fully address the issues highlighted in your correspondence.  YSO will follow-up with your staff over the next several months to resolve outstanding issues and will provide you with an update on our progress upon resolution of the issues via video conference not later than June 30, 2004.

 

If you have any questions, please contact me or have your staff contact Jeff Underwood at (301) 903-8303.

 

Sincerely,

 

Everet H. Beckner

Deputy Administrator

  for Defense Programs

 

Enclosure

 

cc w/enclosure:

M. Whitaker, DR-1