[DOE LETTERHEAD]

 

September 28, 2005

 

MEMORANDUM TO:            DISTRIBUTION

 

FROM:                                    RICHARD STARK

DNFSB RECOMMENDATION 2005-1 RESPONSIBLE

MANAGER

 

SUBJECT:                               Data Request for Site Packaging Information

 

In response to Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (DNFSB) Recommendation 2005-1, the DOE transmitted the “DOE Implementation Plan to Improve Nuclear Material Packaging”, to the DNFSB on August 17, 2005.  One of the deliverables in the Implementation Plan is a formal data survey of site materials packaging.  The survey data collected from the sites will be evaluated against technical nuclear materials packaging and storage criteria that will be finalized by the Recommendation 2005-1 Working Group (Working Group) to ensure safe interim storage and handling of nuclear materials.

 

During the September 13 and 14 2005-1 meeting of the 2005-1 working group in Oak Ridge, TN, the information desired from the scheduled packaging survey received considerable discussion.  After the discussions it was decided that the site packaging information as discussed below was needed.  The working group discussion determined that the packaging information survey will focus on operating sites.  It was determined that the 2005-1 Responsible Manager would provide an updated 2005-1 draft technical document to reflect the agreements in the September 13 and 14 meeting.  The updated technical document accompanies this request. DNFSB 2005-1 Response Team members are asked to review their packaging information and provide the following-information:  identification of packaging types, container types, packaging configurations, packaging approval status, and surveillance requirements.

 

This memorandum requests your support by completing a survey on packaging containers and configurations utilized at your site.  The package survey is posted on the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) website and can be accessed at:

 

http://sa.lanl.gov/extra/05_01.html.

 

Please respond to all parts of the survey as completely as possible by listing all packages being used at your site.  If your site is using a container type not listed, please use the comment field to describe the packaging configuration being used.  The Working Group is in the process of developing the technical criteria that must be satisfied as part of Recommendation 2005-1, and along with the technical criteria, requirements for surveillance of packaged materials commensurate with the safety risk, will also be developed.

 

In addition to the information requested on the survey questionnaire, please provide any additional in formation concerning packaging design specifications, packaging drawings, any packaging testing records/results, packaging inspection/surveillance information, and any packaging failure information in the comments section of the survey.  The specific documentation related to the above information is not requested at this time but may be required in the future.

 

This is your sites’ opportunity to provide the technical basis and/or rational for any specialized packaging needs or configurations.  The packaging information you provide will assist the Working Group in the technical analysis of how materials are packaged in the DOE Complex.

 

Independent of this letter, you will be sent a password for your logon to the web site and instructions on using the data input form.  After you haw completed the survey, submit the data using the “Submit Final” button and the data will be collated and sent to the 2005-1 Responsible Manager.  Please submit this data by October 19, 2005.

 

If you have any questions about the survey, please contact Rich Stark at (301) 903-4407 or GD Roberson at (505) 845-5805.

 

Attachment; Draft Tech Document

 

cc:  Distribution

R. McMorland, DNFSB w/o attachment

M. Whitaker, DNFSB w/o attachment

B. Rosen DNFSB w/o attachment