[DOE LETTERHEAD]

 

National Nuclear Security Administration

 

October 28, 2005

 

The Honorable A. J. Eggenberger

Chairman

Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board

625 Indiana Avenue, NW.

Suite 700

Washington, D.C. 20004

 

Dear Mr. Chairman:

 

Enclosed is the “Quarterly Report for the Implementation Plan Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (DNFSB) Recommendation 98-2, Safety Management at the Pantex Plant,” for the period July 1 through September 30, 2005.

 

During the fourth quarter of Fiscal Year 2005, the National Nuclear Security Administration made progress toward successful execution of the Seamless Safety for the Twenty-First Century (SS-21) process. This report documents the status as of September 30, 2005. The BWXT/Pantex Plant made extensive progress toward implementation of technical safety requirements related to on-site transportation. The B83 SS-2 1 projected startup authorization approval date is expected to occur in the second quarter of Fiscal Year 2006. This date is dependent upon the duration of the revised Hazard Analysis Report and associated readiness assessments. The draft technical business practice for weapon response to potential accident environments and stimuli will be available for formal review by October 31, 2005.

 

Twenty-three out of twenty-seven commitments in the DNFSB Recommendation 98-2 have been delivered and four remain outstanding. If you have questions, please call me or have your staff contact Ms. Wendy Baca at 505-845-6340.

 

Sincerely,

 

Xavier Ascanio

Acting Assistant Deputy Administrator

  for Military Application and

  Stockpile Operations

Defense Programs

 

Enclosure

 

cc:

K. Fortenberry, DNFSB

A. Matteucci, DNFSB

M. Whitaker, DR-1

S. Erhart, PXSO