[SOE LETTERHEAD]
October 18, 2005
The
Honorable A. J. Eggenberger
Chairman,
Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board
625
Indiana Avenue, NW, Suite 700
Washington,
DC 20004
Dear
Mr. Chairman:
On October 3, 2002, the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (DNFSB) issued Recommendation 2002-2, “Weapons Laboratory Support of the Defense Nuclear Complex”, to the Department of Energy (Department). Recommendation 2002-2 stated a concern that the number of nuclear weapon design experts had declined and the National Laboratories’ support to nuclear weapon activity had diminished. The DNFSB also stated concerns with the laboratories not having a senior, single point of contact who is empowered to integrate, coordinate, answer questions, and provide technical support on behalf of each respective laboratory to the rest of the nuclear weapons complexes (NWC).
The Department submitted the Recommendation 2002-2 Implementation Plan to the DNFSB on June 4, 2003. The Plan addressed the Department’s agreement to reemphasize the policy that the nuclear weapons program is the top priority among all activities at the National Weapons Laboratories (Los Alamos National Laboratory, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and Sandia National Laboratories) and to identify a single point of contact at each laboratory for NWC matters and their responsibilities. The commitments with their dates of completion are identified in the enclosure.
The Department will ensure continued attention is paid to the processes that have been established based on the recommendation and requests formal closure of Recommendation 2002-2.
If you have questions, please contact me or Mr. Marty Schoenbauer, Acting Principal Assistant Deputy Administrator for Military Application, at (202)-586-2179.
Sincerely,
Samuel
W. Bodman
cc: R. Tontodonato, DNFSB
M. Whitaker, DR- 1.