[DOE LETTERHEAD]

 

National Nuclear Security AdmINIstratIon

 

March 25, 2004

 

The Honorable John T. Conway

Chairman

Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board

625 Indiana Avenue, NW

Suite 700

Washington, DC 20004

 

Dear Mr. Chairman:

 

This letter provides you the status of our efforts to update the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Site Office Functions, Responsibilities and Authorities Manuals (FRAMs) and to respond to the associated Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (DNFSB) reporting requirement of December 8, 2003.  As directed, the site offices submitted their FRAMs in February 2004 for our review and approval.  We are currently reviewing these FRAMs to ensure that they complement the NNSA Headquarters (HQs) FRAM and that they include software quality assurance responsibilities as committed in the Implementation plans for DNFSB Recommendation 2002-1.

 

In order to respond to the DNFSB reporting requirement of December 8, 2003, we have formed an NNSA team to develop and implement a plan and schedule for revising, as necessary, safety-related orders, standards, supplemental directives, and site office procedures to reflect the roles and responsibilities outlined m the HQs and Site Office FRAMs.  We expect to provide you the plan, schedule and approved Site Office FRAMs by May 28, 2004.

 

If you have any questions, please contact me or have your staff contact Rabi Singh at (301) 903-5864.

 

Sincerely,

 

Everet H. Beckner

Deputy Administrator

  for Defense Programs

 

cc:

T. Przybylek, NA-1

M. Whitaker, DR-1