Departmental Representative to the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board

2007

2007 BY MONTH:  JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
This list last updated

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• December 28, 2007, Department letter regarding the report on the implementation of the Department of Energy Operating Experience Program (OEP) in the Office of Environmental Management as specified in Commitment 19.2 of the Implementation Plan, Revision 2, October 2006, for Recommendation 2004-1, Oversight of Complex, High-Hazard Nuclear Operations.
• December 21, 2007, Department letter regarding NNSA's plans for preparing the G-Tunnel for the limited possibility that it will be used for disposition of an Improvised Nuclear Device (IND).
• December 21, 2007, Department letter regarding the summary of actions taken and responses to the three remaining questions regarding the geotechnical and seismic investigations for the Integrated Waste Treatment Unit (IWTU) facility design. The scope and schedule to address these three questions was provided in reference 1.
• December 21, 2007, Department letter requesting an additional 90-day extension to provide report regarding safety rationale for continuing the operation of the Chemistry and Metallurgy Research (CMR) Building at LANL, as well as a detailed schedule of NNSA actions to assure safe operation of this facility.
• December 21, 2007, Department letter requesting an additional 60-day extension to submit report in order to provide a more comprehensive and informative description of the status of safety improvements at LANL, and of actions NNSA is taking throughout the chain of command to improve Federal oversight.
• December 20, 2007, Department letter regarding the project underway at the Nevada Test Site. Ongoing project work has afforded the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) an opportunity to use some of the concrete cores drilled for the CEF project to verify the DAF structure compressive strength.
• December 17, 2007, Department letter regarding the National Nuclear Security Administration's utilization of the Materials Accountability and Safeguards System at the Los Alamos National Laboratory.
• December 10, 2007, Department letter transmitting the office of Environmental Management's Low Priority Facility Review Reports to satisfy Commitment 8.6.3 in the 2004-2 implementation plan, Active Confinement Systems.

• November 30, 2007, Department letter summarizing the results regarding the completion of Phase 1 and Phase 2 assessments of the Safety Management Programs and safety related Structures, Systems and Components at the Device Assembly Facility (DAF) at the Nevada Test Site.
• November 23, 2007, Department letter regarding the approval of National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) review plan for the design agency (DA) implementations of DOE-STD-3016-2006, Hazard Analysis Reports for Nuclear Explosive Operations.
• November 2, 2007, Department letter reporting the results of the review of NNSA site office and contractor procedures and mechanisms for using the 25 rem evaluation guideline as required under Deliverable 8.9.1 of the Implementation Plan 2004-2, Active Confinement Systems.
• November 1, 2007, Department letter transmitting NNSA Integrated Safety Management Systems Descriptions, NA-1 Supplemental Directive 450.4-1, which fulfills Commitment 22C in the 2004-1 implementation plan, Oversight of Complex, High-Hazard Nuclear Operations.
• November 1, 2007, Department letter reporting completion of Environmental Management (EM) portion of Commitment 22D in the 2004-1 implementation plan, Oversight of Complex, High-Hazard Nuclear Operations, which requires field offices with defense nuclear facilities to develop DOE Integrated Safety Management System Descriptions (ISMSDs) that meet the requirements of the new DOE ISMS Manual.

• October 26, 2007, Department letter regarding the Savannah River Site Life-Cycle Liquid Waste Disposition System Plan, Revision 14.
• October 24, 2007, Department letter regarding Commitments 2.9, 2.10, and 2.13 for the Department’s Implementation Plan for Board Recommendation 2001-1, High-Level Waste Management at the Savannah River Site.
• October 24, 2007, Department letter forwarding the Implementation Plan for Board Recommendation 2007-1, Safety-related In Situ Nondestructive Assay of Radioactive Materials.
• October 23, 2007, Board letter establishing a 60-day reporting requirement and briefing requirement describing (1) safety rationale for continuing the operation of Chemistry and Metallurgy Research (CMR) facility at LANL, and (2) a detailed schedule of NNSA's actions to assure safe operations of this facility.
• October 17, 2007, Board letter regarding the Third Quarterly Report to Congress on the Status of Significant Unresolved Issues with the Department of Energy’s Design and Construction Projects.
• October 16, 2007, Department letter forwarding the Central Technical Authority for the Department of Energy had completed Commitment 3, Revision 2 of the 2004-1 implementation plan, Oversight of Complex, High-Hazard Nuclear Operations.
• October 16, 2007, Board letter establishing a 60-day reporting requirement and briefing requirement describing specific actions NNSA has taken to (1) facilitate timely and effective implementation of ongoing safety improvement initiatives for nuclear operations, (2) rapidly increase confidence in safety systems currently relied upon in operating nuclear facilities, and (3) improve the federal oversight of safety systems at LANL.
• October 15, 2007, Board letter regarding the full assumption of responsibility and accountability for managing and operating all nuclear and radiological facilities at the Nevada Test Site by National Security Technologies, LLC (NSTec). The Board supports the transition, but will be closely following the implementation of actions required to satisfy NNSA's objective.
• October 1, 2007, Department letter transmitting NNSA Central Technical Authority (CTA) guidance to the Office of the Deputy Administrator for Defense Programs regarding expectations that the safety bases and controls be finalized and approved before a Contractor Readiness Assessment begins.

• September 14, 2007, Board letter regarding the Uranium-233 Downblending and Disposition Project in Building 3019 at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
• September 10, 2007, Department letter regarding Commitment 8.6.3 for Department of Energy implementation plan for Board recommendation 2004-2, Active Confinement Systems.
• September 10, 2007, Board letter establishing a 90-day reporting requirement regarding the overall strategy and key milestones for the upgrade of the LANL Materials Accountability and Safeguards System (MASS).

• August 30, 2007, Department letter providing an update to a previous letter to the Board (March 27, 2006) describing progress made in NNSA closing out remaining tasks related to historical supplemental directives from field elements.
• August 29, 2007, Department letter regarding the revised schedule for Implementation Plan 2004-1, Oversight of Complex, High-Hazard Nuclear Operations, Commitment 5, Deliverable A for the Oversight Guide.
• August 29, 2007, Board letter regarding DOE's plans for low-temperature aluminum dissolution and subsequent storage of aluminum-rich supernate in Tank 11 at the Savannah River Site's high-level waste tank farms.
• August 20, 2007, Department letter providing status in developing a directives system for the National Nuclear Security Administration.
• August 20, 2007, Department letter forwarding the Corrective Action Plan (CAP) for Environmental Management Headquarters Safety Functions and Responsibilities Associated with Nuclear Facilities.
• August 20, 2007, Department letter reporting completion of HSS portion of Commitment 22C in the 2004-1 implementation plan, Oversight of Complex, High-Hazard Nuclear Operations, which requires the issuance of an approved HSS Integrated Safety Management System Description.
• August 16, 2007, Department letter regarding aluminum removal from sludge batch 5 in Tank 51 at the Savannah River Site.
• August 14, 2007, Department letter regarding Safe Startup of Weapon Program Activities at the Pantex Plant.
• August 13, 2007, Department letter providing status on the Savannah River Site Life-cycle Liquid Waste Disposition System Plan.
• August 9, 2007, Board letter regarding the Uranium Processing Facility (UPF) at Y-12.
• August 8, 2007, Board letter closing Board Recommendation 2000-2, Configuration Management, Vital Safety Systems.

• July 30, 2007, Board letter establishing a 45-day reporting requirement regarding the implementation of Recommendation 2002-3, Requirements for the Design, Implementation, and Maintenance of Administrative Controls.
• July 30, 2007, Board letter regarding authorization basis review at the Pantex Plant.
• July 26, 2007, Department letter reporting completion of Commitment 119W in the 2000-1 implementation plan, Prioritization in Stabilizing Nuclear Materials, which calls for the completion of bulk sludge containerization at K West Basin.
• July 19, 2007, Department letter providing status of structural steel fire protection at the Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant (WTP).
• July 19, 2007, A Joint Report to Congress by the Department and the Board on improving the identification and resolution of safety issues during the design and construction of DOE defense nuclear facilities.
• July 16, 2007, Board letter establishing a 30-day reporting requirement regarding adherence to Department of Energy requirements for safe startup of weapon program activities at the Pantex Plant.
• July 13, 2007, Federal Register publication of the Department's response to Board recommendation 2007-1, Safety-Related In Situ Nondestructive Assay of Radioactive Materials.
• July 12, 2007, Department letter providing status and path forward regarding implementation of DOE Standard 1189 (DOE-STD-1189), Integration of Safety into the Design Process.

• June 29, 2007, Department letter informing the Board of a delay in the issuance of the Savannah River Site Waste Disposition System Plan relative to Commitment 3.11 in the 2001-1 implementation plan, High-Level Waste Management at the Savannah River Site.
• June 29, 2007, Department letter reporting the conclusion of Environmental Management's review of site procedures and safety bases mechanisms for using the 25 rem evaluation guideline to satisfy Commitment 8.9.1 in the 2004-2 implementation plan, Active Confinement Systems.
• June 28, 2007, Department letter accepting Board recommendation 2007-1, Safety-Related In Situ Nondestructive Assay of Radioactive Materials.
• June 26, 2007, Board letter commending Admiral Kirkland Donald, Deputy Administrator of Naval Reactors, NNSA, for the outstanding performance report on radiological waste disposal and environment monitoring, occupational safety and health, and occupational radiation exposure, and the annual overview of the Naval Reactors program.
• June 26, 2007, Board letter forwarding the Fourth Annual Report to Congress on Plutonium Storage at the Savannah River Site.
• June 25, 2007, Board letter forwarding the Second Quarterly Report to Congress on the status of significant unresolved technical issues between the Board and the Department of Energy (DOE) concerning design and construction of DOE's defense nuclear facilities.
• June 22, 2007, Department letter providing status on issues with the Sodium-Bearing Waste Treatment Project.
• June 20, 2007, Board letter forwarding the Second Quarterly Report to Congress on the Status of Significant Unresolved Issues with the Department's Design and Construction Projects.
• June 19, 2007, Department letter regarding NNSA plans and criteria for review and approval of the design agencies' (DAs) expert elicitation, expert judgment, and peer review processes as specified in DOE-NA-STD-3016-2006, Hazard Analysis Reports for Nuclear Explosive Operations.
• June 8, 2007, Department letter forwarding the Office of Environmental Management (EM) High Priority Facility Review Reports relative to Commitment 8.6.3 in the 2004-2 implementation plan, Active Confinement Systems.
• June 6, 2007, Board letter congratulating Mr. Robert Seal of Idaho Operations Office for being honored as the 2006 DOE Facility Representative of the Year.
• June 4, 2007, Department letter reporting completion of Commitments 120E and 122E in the 2000-1 implementation plan, Prioritization for Stabilizing Nuclear Materials, which requires the complete bulk sludge and final pass sludge removal from the K East Basin.
• June 1, 2007, Board letter expressing satisfaction on actions taken by DOE and its contractors to resolve safety issues relative to the design of the Salt Waste Processing Facility at the Savannah River Site.

• May 21, 2007, Department letter reporting completion of NNSA portion of Commitment 9B in the 2004-1 implementation plan, Oversight of Complex, High-Hazard Nuclear Operations, which required a report to the Secretary on the process and criteria to delegating safety authorities to the field.
• May 16, 2007, Board letter establishing a 45-day reporting requirement on Risk Assessment Policy for Nuclear Safety.
• May 11, 2007, Department letter regarding structural analysis and design of the Salt Waste Processing Facility (SWPF).
• May 10, 2007, Board letter establishing a 30-day reporting requirement regarding expert elicitation, expert judgement, and peer review processes by the design agencies and DOE-NA-STD-3016, Hazard Analysis Reports for Nuclear Explosive Operations.
• May 7, 2007, Department letter regarding DOE Standard 1027, Hazard Categorization and Accident Analysis Techniques for Compliance with DOE Order 5480.23, Nuclear Safety Analysis Report.
• May 2, 2007, Federal Register publication of DNFSB Recommendation 2007-1, Safety-Related In Situ Nondestructive Assay of Radioactive Materials.
• May 1, 2007, Department letter reporting completion of Environmental Management (EM) portion of Commitment 22C in the 2004-1 implementation plan, Oversight of Complex, High-Hazard Nuclear Operations, which requires the issuance of an approved EM Integrated Safety Management System Description (ISMSD).

• April 25, 2007, Board letter forwarding Recommendation 2007-1, Safety-Related In Situ Nondestructive Assay of Radioactive Materials.
• April 24, 2007, Board letter establishing a 30-day reporting requirement regarding quality of technical procedures for nuclear and nuclear explosive operations at Pantex.
• April 24, 2007, Department letter providing status of and plan to complete Commitment 2.9 in the 2001-1 implementation plan, High-Level Waste Management at the Savannah River Site, which calls for the disposition of 100K gallons of salt solutions in the Saltstone Disposal Facility.
• April 19, 2007, Board letter regarding use of justifications for continuing operations (JCOs) at defense nuclear facilities.
• April 9, 2007, Department letter forwarding the NNSA report on the disposition of transuranic (TRU) waste at Los Alamos National Laboratory.
• April 4, 2007, Department letter forwarding the Office of Environmental Management Self-Assessment report, completing Commitment 9C in the 2004-1 implementation plan, Oversight of Complex, High-Hazard Nuclear Operations.

• March 30, 2007, Board letter establishing a 30-day reporting requirement regarding lightning protection at the Pantex Plant.
• March 23, 2007, Department letter reporting completion of the Environmental Management's portion of Commitment 8.9.1 in the 2004-2 implementation plan, Active Confinement Systems.
• March 15, 2007, Department letter providing updated information on the revision of four DOE Technical Standards for High Efficiency Air Particulate (HEPA) filters.
• March 14, 2007, Department letter forwarding the 2006 Annual Report to Congress on DOE's activities relating to the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board.
• March 13, 2007, Department letter reporting completion of Commitments 4.2.2, 4.4.6, and 4.5.1 in the 98-2 implementation plan, Safety Management at the Pantex Plant.
• March 13, 2007, Department letter providing status on Commitments 120E and 122E in the 2000-1 implementation plan, Prioritization for Stabilizing Nuclear Materials.
• March 13, 2007, Board letter establishing both (1) a 6-month reporting requirement for a briefing regarding the continued safe operations of the 9212 Complex, and (2) an annual reporting requirement on the annual assessment of the 9212 Complex, and the progress on the Uranium Processing Facility (UPF).
• March 13, 2007, Board letter regarding the Department's revised 2004-2 implementation plan, Active Confinement Systems.
• March 12, 2007, Department letter forwarding the Nuclear Criticality Safety Program report for calendar year 2006.
• March 9, 2007, Department letter regarding the draft Nuclear Material Packaging Manual in relation to the 2005-1 implementation plan, Nuclear Material Packaging.
• March 6, 2007, Department letter reporting completion of Deliverable 8.6.4 in the 2004-2 implementation plan, Active Confinement Systems, which requires the Department to revise the Ventilation System Evaluation Guidance document based on experience and lessons learned from the pilot facility evaluations.

• February 28, 2007, Board's Seventeenth Annual Report to Congress describing the Board's health and safety activities relating to the Department of Energy's defense nuclear facilities during calendar year 2006.
• February 28, 2007, Department letter forwarding two DOE internal memoranda regarding ventilation system evaluations relative to Commitment 8.6 in the 2004-2 implementation plan, Active Confinement Systems.
• February 15, 2007, Department letter regarding the Pit Disassembly and Conversion Facility (PDCF) ventilation system review results.
• February 15, 2007, Board letter forwarding the First Quarterly Report to Congress on the Status of Significant Unresolved Issues with the Department of Energy's Design and Construction Projects.
• February 13, 2007, Department letter providing status of NNSA activities to complete Commitment 9B in the 2004-1 implementation plan, Oversight of Complex, High-Hazard Nuclear Operations.
• February 9, 2007, Department letter providing a report on the geotechnical and structural design of the Salt Waste Processing Facility at the Savannah River Site.
• February 7, 2007, Department letter regarding implementation of DOE Order 425.1C, Startup and Restart of Nuclear Facilities.
• February 1, 2007, Board letter regarding improving safety at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL).
• February 1, 2007, Board letter regarding program evaluation of the high-level waste system at the Savannah River Site.

• January 30, 2007, Board letter commending the Department's Environmental Management for addressing issues relative to and its efforts to improve the readiness review process in safely starting up hazardous facilities.
• January 30, 2007, Department letter reporting completion of NNSA's portion of Commitment 3 in Revision 2 of the 2004-1 implementation plan, which requires the full implementation of the Central Technical Authority function within the NNSA.
• January 29, 2007, Board letter regarding worker protection during transuranic (TRU) waste operations.
• January 29, 2007, Board letter regarding the Container Surveillance and Storage Capability (CSSC) Project at the Savannah River Site.
• January 25, 2007, Department letter forwarding the Office of Environmental Management Pilot Facility Review Reports as the deliverable for Commitment 8.6.5 in the 2004-2 implementation plan, Active Confinement Systems.
• January 24, 2007, Board letter regarding the Integrated Waste Treatment Unit (IWTU) at the Idaho National Laboratory.
• January 23, 2007, Department letter regarding the Chief of Defense Nuclear Safety (CDNS) for the NNSA biennial review reports.
• January 22, 2007, Department letter reporting completion of Commitments 502, 504, and 509 in the 2000-1 implementation plan, Stabilization and Storage of Nuclear Materials, which requires 50 percent stabilization of weapons grade plutonium, 50 percent stabilization of non-weapons grade plutonium, and 50 percent stabilization of the 248 kg of the materials through the Recovery Evaluation Process (REP), respectively, at the Los Alamos National Laboratory.
• January 22, 2007, Board letter regarding Board recommendation 2002-3, Requirements for the Design, Implementation, and Maintenance of Administrative Controls.
• January 18, 2007, Board letter establishing a 45-day reporting requirement regarding transuranic waste operations at the Los Alamos National Laboratory.
• January 18, 2007, Board letter accepting the revised schedule of deliverables in the Department's revised 2005-1 implementation plan, Nuclear Material Packaging.
• January 17, 2007, Department letter forwarding the Federal Technical Capability Program (FTCP) Corrective Action Plan, Revision 1, Deliverable B for Commitment 13 in the 2004-1, Revision 2 implementation plan, Implementation Plan to Improve Oversight of Nuclear Operations.
• January 10, 2007, Board letter establishing a 30-day reporting requirement regarding issues on the structural design of the Salt Waste Processing Facility at the Savannah River Site.
• January 9, 2007, Department letter forwarding the revised draft DOE Risk Assessment Policy for Nuclear Safety.
• January 8, 2007, Department letter regarding DOE Order 442.1A on the Department's Employee Concerns Program.
• January 4, 2007, Department letter informing the Board that the Department has completed its actions and commitments in the 2002-3 implementation plan and requesting closure of Board recommendation 2002-3, Requirements for the Design, Implementation, and Maintenance of Administrative Controls.