[SOE LETTERHEAD]
July 12, 2006
The Honorable A. J. Eggenberger
Chairman
Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board
625 Indiana Avenue, NW, Suite 700
Washington, D.C. 20004-2901
Dear Mr. Chairman:
Enclosed is a revised Department of Energy (DOE) Implementation Plan (IP) in response to the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board Recommendation 2004-2, Active Confinement Systems. The changes in Revision 1 of the IP are summarized in the “Background” section of Revision 1.
This revision establishes a phased-in schedule for several commitments relating to confinement systems in the DOE complex. This phased-in schedule reflects an increased understanding of the time and resources that are needed at several DOE sites to effectively review new and existing facility active confinement ventilation systems (CVS) in accordance with the Ventilation System Evaluation Guidance for Safety-Related and Non-Safety Related Systems that was previously submitted as Deliverables 8.5.4 and 8.7. The Revision 1 schedule requires a review of facility CVS data and an evaluation of several pilot facilities prior to embarking on a DOE-wide review of facilities. This phased-in schedule will permit an early review of new facilities and higher priority existing facilities and a subsequent review of lesser priority facilities based on the lessons learned from the review of CVS data and strategies at the pilot facilities.
We believe that Revision 1 will more effectively and efficiently achieve the objectives of Recommendation 2004-2. Please contact me or Mr. C. Russell Shearer, Acting Assistant Secretary for Environment, Safety and Health, at 202-586-4693 if further information is needed.
Sincerely,
Samuel
W. Bodman
cc:
D. Garman, US-1
M. Whitaker, DR-1
R. Shearer, EH-1
J. Rispoli, EM-1
J. Paul, NA-2
D. Hill, GC-1