[SOE LETTERHEAD]
October 24, 2007
The Honorable A. J.
Eggenberger
Chairman
Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board
Dear Mr. Chairman:
Enclosed is the Department of Energy's (DOE)
Implementation Plan (Plan) for the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board's (Board)
Recommendation 2007- 1, Safety-related In Situ Nondestructive Assay
of Radioactive Materials.
This Plan provides the Department's approach for
addressing holdup measurements of fissionable material in installed process
equipment, ancillary equipment, and supporting facility infrastructure using in
situ Nondestructive Assay. The methodology applied to this Plan permits the
Department to address the Board's Recommendation with the proper priority on
safety. The program improvements that will result from addressing in situ Nondestructive
Assay of fissionable materials will also benefit our ability to measure holdup
of other radioisotopes.
DOE appreciates the support provided by the Board and
its staff during the development of this Plan. We will keep you and your staff
informed of our progress in completing the Plan.
I have assigned
Mr. Richard Lagdon, Chief of Nuclear Safety, Office of the Under Secretary of
Energy, as the Department's responsible manager for ensuring the Plan's
successful completion. Mr. Lagdon can be reached at (202) 586-9471.
Sincerely,
Samuel W. Bodman