[DOE LETTERHEAD]

 

December 14, 2004

 

The Honorable John T. Conway

Chairman

Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board

625 Indiana Avenue, N.W., Suite 700

Washington, DC 20004-2901

 

Dear Mr. Chairman:

 

Under Secretary Garman’s letter dated October 13, 2004, regarding the adequacy of the Department of Energy (DOE) natural phenomena hazards design standards and the performance category designation for the conceptual design of the Salt Waste Processing Facility at the Savannah River Site, indicated that the Office of Environmental Management would provide a briefing to you within 60 days.

 

Based on subsequent discussions with the Board and its staff on confinement strategy and our desire to incorporate any impacts from potential changes to applicable DOE directives, I propose our briefing to the Board occur by February 28, 2005.

 

We will continue to work with your staff to ensure worker and public safety are adequately protected by the facility design with respect to the natural phenomena hazards.  If you have any further questions, please call me at (202) 586-7709 or Mr. Dae Y. Chung, Director, Office of Licensing, at (301) 903-3968.

 

Sincerely,

 

Paul M. Golan

Acting Assistant Secretary for

Environmental Management

 

cc:

M. Whitaker, DR-1

J. Allison, DOE-SR

J. Shaw, EH-1