[DOE LETTERHEAD]

 

NATIONAL NUCLEAR SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

 

July 23, 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:

 

We have received your letter dated May 21, 2004, that identified weaknesses and deficiencies in incorporating Integrated Safety Management (ISM) into work planning and control at the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) sites.  We understand your concerns and are fully committed to ensuring effective incorporation of ISM into activity-level work planning and control at NNSA sites to ensure that work is performed safely.  As discussed in the enclosure, I have asked our site offices and contractors to perform assessments in this area in preparation for a workshop intended to address this issue.  We will ensure participation by appropriate management levels from each of our sites and ensure that senior management is engaged and fully supports this effort.  We will keep your staff informed of related activities and progress, and welcome their involvement.

 

If you have any questions, please contact me or have your staff contact Rick Kendall at

(301) 903-3102.

 

Sincerely,

 

Everet H. Beckner

Deputy Administrator

  for Defense Programs

 

Enclosure

 

cc w/enclosure:

M. Whitaker, DR-1