[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 20004-2901
Dear Mr. Chairman:
This letter is the National Nuclear Security
Administration’s (NNSA) response to your letter dated January 22, 2004, which
requested to be informed of the actions NNSA will take to address identified
shortcomings and enhance the Nuclear Explosive Safety Study (NESS) process. The
shortcomings and enhancement recommendations presented to the Board were the result
of Mr. Gene Ives’ assessment and the Senior Technical Advisory Panel (STAP) recommendations.
Mr. Ives performed a tremendous service by
reviewing our NESS processes (Enclosure 1 and 2 contain the Ives cover letter
and report). NNSA is implementing most
of Mr. Ives’ recommendations as we re-write applicable directives. NNSA believes the impending revision of DOE-STD-3015,
DOE O 452.1X, DOE O 452.2X, D&P Manual Chapters 11.7 and 11.8, and the STAP
charter will satisfy the recommendations. Additionally, NNSA has committed to aligning
the site functions, responsibilities, and authorities (FRA) documents with the
approved NNSA FRA in this same timeframe.
NNSA does not concur with Mr. Ives’
recommendation that NESS Group (NESSG) deliberations take place in closed
session. Fair, open, and honest discussions
are the basis for decisions free from undue influence. However, should the NESSG Chair feel proceeds
are being disturbed or otherwise affected by outside influence, the Chair can
call for an Executive Session at any time.
Some additional enhancements will be
necessary to strengthen the NESS process. The Ives report highlighted schedule slippages
by the project teams, affecting the NESS schedules. NNSA will continue to provide oversight on
the project team performance during Standing Management Team meetings and by
participation in the Pantex Focus Group Meetings. Additionally, the Pantex Site Office will
lead an effort to issue a Technical Business Practice to further define the
interactions of the laboratories and Pantex contractor on weapons response issues.
Enclosure 3 is our final response to the
STAP recommendations. The current NNSA STAP
Charter is at Enclosure 4. The revised
STAP Charter is at Enclosure 5.
NNSA anticipates publishing DOE Order 452.1C
by June 30, 2004 DOE Order 452.2C should be in the review process by May 31, 2004,
with publication by August 31, 2004. Furthermore,
NA-121 is currently finalizing DOE-STD-3015 and is reconciling comments received
from the field. A copy of the final
standard will be sent to you once we have finished it. NA-121 expects DOE-STD-3015 to be issued no
later than May 31, 2004 Chapter 11.7 of the Development and Production Manual, Nuclear Explosive Operations Change Control
Process, is on the same schedule.
Sincerely,
David E. Beck
Assistant Deputy Administrator
for Military Application
and Stockpile Operations
Defense Programs
Encl. 1. Ives cover letter
2. Ives report (OUO)
3. Final response to STAP recommendations
cc:
E. Beckner, NA-10
M. Whitaker, DR-1