[DOE LETTERHEAD]

 

National Nuclear Security Administration

 

August 9, 2004

 

The Honorable John T. Conway

Chairman

Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board

625 Indiana Avenue, N.W.

Suite 700

Washington, D.C. 20004

 

Dear Mr. Chairman:

 

In response to your January 27, 2004, letter on Conduct of Engineering and Implementation of Department of Energy (DOE) Order 420.1A, Facility Safety, at Los Alamos National Laboratory we requested a 90-day extension to prepare an adequate implementation plan.  This extension was granted in your May 14, 2004, letter.

 

On July 16, 2004, the Laboratory Director ordered a complete shutdown of the Laboratory with a phased start-up based on his assessment of when specific sub-elements will be ready to resume operations.  Since, the development of the resource-loaded implementation plan is tied to this resumption process, it is necessary to request an additional 90-day extension for the submittal of the report.  Los Alamos National Laboratory currently plans on implementing the requirements of DOE Order 420.1A as an integral part of resumption of operations.  An implementation plan and schedule will be provided at a later date.

 

Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me or have a member of your staff contact Sujita Pierpoint at (301) 903-9601 or Gerald Schlapper at (505) 665-7111.

 

Sincerely,

 

Everet H. Beckner

Deputy Administrator

  for Defense Programs

 

cc:

M. Whitaker, DR-1