[DOE
LETTERHEAD]
National Nuclear Security Administration
February 25, 2004
The Honorable John Conway
Chairman
Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board
625 Indiana Avenue N.W., Suite 700
Washington, D.C. 20004
Dear Mr. Chairman:
As I have told the Board, I became convinced
after reading the report of the Gehman Commission investigating the tragedy to the
Space Shuttle Columbia that many of the report’s insights were relevant to the
operation of facilities within the National Nuclear Security Administration. I, therefore, chartered a Task Force under the
leadership of Brigadier General Ron Haeckel, Principal Assistant Deputy
Administrator for Defense Programs, to review the Columbia Accident
Investigation Board report and provide recommendations. I promised you that I would make a copy of
General Haeckel’s report available once it was completed.
A copy of the report is enclosed. While I am still reviewing the specific recommendations,
I anticipate adopting many of them. When
I have completed my review, I will provide the Board with a summary of those I
have adopted and my rationale for not adopting any I chose to reject or modify.
I am proud of the work of the Task Force and
appreciative of the time, energy, and commitment they have devoted to producing
this report. I believe their efforts demonstrate
that, while there remains much work to do, there is strong support for an improved
Safety culture within NNSA.
I hope you and the Board find the report
useful.
Sincerely,
Linton F. Brooks
Administrator