Departmental Representative to the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board

2013

2013 BY MONTH:  JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
This list last updated

---

• December 26, 2013, Board provides periodic report to Congress on the status of significant unresolved safety issues concerning the design and construction of DOE's defense nuclear facilities.
• December 23, 2013, Department letter transmitting deliverable 1-5, 3-3, and 3-4 of the Implementation Plan for Board Recommendation 2012-1, Savannah River Site Building 235-F Safety.
• December 23, 2013, Department letter stating that DOE has completed all commitments in the Implementation Plan for Recommendation 2009-1, Risk Assessment Methodologies at Defense Nuclear Facilities.
• December 19, 2013, Board letter closing Recommendation 2000-1, Prioritization for Stabilizing Nuclear Materials.
• December 6, 2013, Department letter providing follow-up information regarding the pause in programmatic operations at the LANL Plutonium Facility as a precautionary measure due to concerns with the criticality safety program.

• November 25, 2013, Department letter transmitting deliverable 2-3 of the Implementation Plan for Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board Recommendation 2011-1, Safety Culture at the Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant (WTP).
• November 21, 2013, Department letter responding to the Board letter of August 26, 2013, regarding integration of safety into design for the Uranium Processing Facility (UPF) project.
• November 8, 2013, Board letter regarding the status and safety posture of the Transuranic Waste Processing Center Sludge Processing Facility Buildouts (SL-PFB) project at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
• November 1, 2013, Board letter providing its perspective on the safety implications of removing a portion of the radioactive liquid from tank 241-AY-102 at the Hanford site.

• October 30, 2013, Board letter forwarding its Fourth Annual Report to Congress: Summary of Significant Safety-Related Aging Infrastructure Issues at Operating Defense Nuclear Facilities.
• October 23, 2013, Board letter modifying the annual reporting requirement for DOE Nuclear Criticality Safety Program. The letter also establishes a 120-day reporting requirement for a report and briefing that details the Program Secretarial Officer's assessment of the metrics relied upon to perform effective line oversight of criticality safety programs.
• October 17, 2013, Board letter closing Recommendation 2002-3, Requirements for the Design, Implementation, and Maintenance of Administrative Controls.
• October 11, 2013, Department letter informing the Board of the remaining Office of Environmental Management's commitments associated with the Implementation Plan for Recommendation 2000-1, Prioritization for Stabilizing Nuclear Materials.
• October 4, 2013, Department letter transmitting deliverable 2-5 (Safety Conscious Work Environment self-assessment reports for National Nuclear Security Administration's federal and contractor organizations) of the Department's Implementation Plan for Recommendation 2011-1, Safety Culture at the Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant.
• October 1, 2013, Department letter transmitting deliverable 2-5 (Safety Conscious Work Environment self-assessment reports for the Office of Science Defense Nuclear Facilities) of the Department's Implementation Plan for Recommendation 2011-1, Safety Culture at the Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant.

• September 30, 2013, Department letter transmitting deliverable 2-5 (Safety Conscious Work Environment self-assessment reports for the Office of Environmental Management (EM) Federal and contractor Organizations) of the Department's Implementation Plan for Recommendation 2011-1, Safety Culture at the Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant.
• September 27, 2013, Department letter providing a summary of schedule changes for some deliverables in the Department's Implementation Plan for Recommendation 2011-1, Safety Culture at the Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant.
• September 20, 2013, Department letter responding to the Board letter of July 24, 2013, and providing a report on the actions DOE is taking to meet the commitments of its Implementation Plan for Recommendation 2010-1, with an updated Implementation Plan schedule.
• September 16, 2013, Department letter indicating that NNSA will provide the response to the Board letter dated August 26, 2013, following the Public Hearing and Meeting scheduled for October 22, 2013.
• September 11, 2013, Department letter responding to the Board letter of July 15, 2013, and providing a schedule for the revised implementation plan for Recommendation 2010-2, Pulse Jet Mixing at the Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant.
• September 9, 2013, Department letter requesting an extension until November 30, 2013, to provide a report that details DOE's assessment of the effectiveness of its actions to address weaknesses in work planning and control.
• September 6, 2013, FY2012 Annual Report to Congress on DOE's activities relating to the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board.
• September 3, 2013, Department letter responding to the Board letter of July 17, 2013, and providing a schedule outlining the path to complete the alternate analysis for a seismic collapse scenario at the Los Alamos National Laboratory Plutonium Facility.
• September 3, 2013, Board letter acknowledging and congratulating Mr. Ron Alderson of the Nevada Field Office as the recipient of the 2012 DOE Safety System Oversight Annual Award.
• September 3, 2013, Board letter acknowledging and congratulating Mr. John Barnes of the Savannah River Operations Office on being awarded the 2012 DOE Facility Representative of the Year.

• August 29, 2013, Department letter transmitting deliverable 3-4 of the Implementation Plan for Recommendation 2012-1, Savannah River Site Building 235-F Safety. This letter also transmits revised dates for some deliverables under the Implementation Plan.
• August 26, 2013, Board letter establishing a 60-day reporting requirement for NNSA to describe (1) NNSA's plan and schedule for addressing the issues detailed in the enclosed report and (2) NNSA's plan to strengthen oversight of control selection and evaluation processes for the UPF project.
• August 21, 2013, Department letter notifying the Board that DOE has completed all actions contained in the Implementation Plan for Recommendation 2002-3, Requirements for the Design, Implementation, and Maintenance of Administrative Controls.
• August 15, 2013, Department letter in response to the Board letter of July 15, 2013, regarding criticality safety concerns stemming from weaknesses in conduct of operations at the Plutonium Facility at Los Alamos National Laboratory.
• August 1, 2013, Department letter informing the Board that the expected completion date for Action 1-6 of the Department's Implementation Plan for Recommendation 2011-1 is June 2014.

• July 24, 2013, Board letter establishing a 60-day reporting requirement for (1) a report and briefing that describe the actions DOE will be taking to meet the commitments of its Implementation Plan for Recommendation 2010-1, and (2) an updated Implementation Plan schedule.
• July 17, 2013, Board letter establishing a 45-day reporting requirement for a schedule outlining the path to complete the alternate analysis for a seismic collapse scenario at the Los Alamos National Laboratory Plutonium Facility.
• July 17, 2013, Board letter accepting the Department’s Implementation Plan for Recommendation 2012-2, Hanford Tank Farms Flammable Gas Safety Strategy.
• July 15, 2013, Board provides periodic report to Congress on the status of significant unresolved safety issues concerning the design and construction of DOE's defense nuclear facilities.
• July 15, 2013, Board letter establishing a 30-day reporting requirement regarding criticality safety concerns stemming from weaknesses in conduct of operations at the Plutonium Facility at Los Alamos National Laboratory.
• July 15, 2013, Board letter establishing a 60-day reporting requirement for a report that provides the schedule for completing a revised Recommendation 2010-2 implementation plan, and a 90-day reporting requirement for a briefing that describes in detail the design verification philosophy DOE will employ to demonstrate reliable operation of the pulse jet mixers. The Board also requests the designation of the responsible manager for this recommendation.
• July 11, 2013, Secretary Moniz letter thanking the Board for its letter of June 20, 2013.

• June 20, 2013, Board letter of congratulation to Secretary Moniz upon his appointment as Secretary of Energy. The letter also provides a brief summary of the Board’s views on the current challenges DOE faces in the area of safety at DOE's defense nuclear facilities.
• June 6, 2013, Department letter transmitting the Implementation Plan for Recommendation 2012-2, Hanford Tank Farms Flammable Gas Safety Strategy.

• May 30, 2013, Department letter transmitting deliverable "Validation and Effectiveness Review of ORP and BNI safety culture improvements" for Action 1-9 of the Implementation Plan for Recommendation 2011-1, Safety Culture at the Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant.
• May 30, 2013, Department letter transmitting deliverable consistent with commitment 1.1 (Complete project deactivation planning for Plutonium Fuel Form Cells 1-9) of the Implementation Plan for Recommendation 2012-1, Savannah River Site Building 235-F Safety.
• May 30, 2013, Department letter in response to the Board’s letter of February 25, 2013, regarding Fire Protection Systems at the Pantex Plant.

• April 30, 2013, Department letter transmitting the second deliverable for Action 1-8 of the Implementation Plan for Recommendation 2011-1, Safety Culture at the Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant.
• April 22, 2013, Board letter stating that the Board closes Recommendation 2008-1, Safety Classification of Fire Protection Systems.
• April 19, 2013, Department letter notifying the Board that DOE is executing a 45 day extension for completing the implementation plan for Recommendation 2012-2, Hanford Tank Farms Flammable Gas Safety Strategy.
• April 16, 2013, Board letter stating that the Board reserves acceptance of DOE's Implementation Plan for Recommendation 2012-1, Savannah River Site Building 235-F Safety, until receipt and review of the Building 235-F project Deactivation Plan.
• April 11, 2013, Department letter providing the National Nuclear Security Administration's update of activities relating to commitments 505 and 511 of the Implementation Plan for DNFSB Recommendation 2000-1, Prioritization for Stabilizing Nuclear Materials.
• April 3, 2013, Department letter transmitting deliverable 3-3 (Updated Building 235-F Drill Plan) of the Implementation Plan for Recommendation 2012-1, Savannah River Site Building 235-F Safety.
• April 1, 2013, Department letter transmitting deliverable 2c-2 (Building 235-F fire detection and alarm systems (FDAS) enhancement study) of the Implementation Plan for Recommendation 2012-1, Savannah River Site Building 235-F Safety.

• March 27, 2013, Board letter transmitting its Twenty-Third Annual Report to Congress for Calendar Year 2012.
• March 27, 2013, Department letter in response to the Board’s letter of January 3, 2013, concerning DOE senior leadership’s assessment of the current state of public and worker protection for seismic accident scenarios, and the risk reduction measures to be applied to mitigate near term seismic risks of the Plutonium Facility (PF-4) at Los Alamos National Laboratory.
• March 25, 2013, Department letter transmitting the DOE Annual Report on Nuclear Criticality Safety for Fiscal Year 2012.
• March 22, 2013, Department letter transmitting deliverable 2B-1 (Documented review of the Building 235-F electrical components, plan for de-energization, and process for control of the resultant configuration) of the Implementation Plan for Recommendation 2012-1, Savannah River Site Building 235-F Safety.
• March 21, 2013, Department letter reporting completion of all actions in the Implementation Plan for Recommendation 2008-1, Safety Classification of Fire Protection Systems.
• March 19, 2013, Board letter closing Recommendation 2007-1, Safety-Related In Situ Nondestructive Assay of Radioactive Materials.
• March 4, 2013, Department letter informing the Board that DOE has completed the implementation of the Tank Farms Documented Safety Analysis upgrade.
• March 3, 2013, Department letter transmitting deliverable 2A-2 (Evaluate fixed combustibles and define the fixed combustible removal, encapsulation, or isolation scope) of the Implementation Plan for Recommendation 2012-1, Savannah River Site Building 235-F Safety.

• February 28, 2013, Department letter transmitting deliverable 3-2 (Documented review of the existing protective action plans and procedures to ensure that all F-Area tenants are protected from the hazards associated with a radiological release from Building 235-F) of the Implementation Plan for Recommendation 2012-1, Savannah River Site Building 235-F Safety.
• February 25, 2013, Board letter establishing a 90-day reporting requirement regarding plans and schedules for actions to ensure the proper operability and reliability of fire protection systems at the Pantex Plant.
• February 20, 2013, Department letter reporting actions the NNSA has taken or plans to take to ensure the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Plutonium Facility's Glovebox System and Fire Detection and Alarm System can perform their safety functions. This letter also provides a report on actions NNSA has taken to resolve the other issues noted in the Board’s letter of December 13, 2011.
• February 13, 2013, Department letter transmitting deliverable 2a-1 (Transient Combustible Control Program Description for Building 235-F) of the Department of Energy's Implementation Plan for Recommendation 2012-1, Savannah River Site Building 235-F Safety.
• February 11, 2013, Department letter transmitting the report "Independent Oversight Assessment of Nuclear Safety Culture at the Salt Waste Processing Facility Project", in completing Action 2-6 in the Department of Energy's Implementation Plan for Recommendation 2011-1, Safety Culture at the Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant.

• January 31, 2013, Department letter transmitting deliverable 3-1 (Emergency Preparedness drill schedule for Calendar Year 2013) of the Implementation Plan for Recommendation 2012-1, Savannah River Site Building 235-F Safety.
• January 31, 2013, Department letter in response to the Board letter of August 30, 2012, concerning the adequacy of the development, review, and approval of safety control strategies for nuclear operations at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
• January 16, 2013, Department letter responding to the Board letter of November 19, 2012, concerning the nuclear facility safety basis for Area G at Los Alamos National Laboratory.
• January 16, 2013, Department letter requesting a 30-day extension to transmit the Department’s Annual Report on Nuclear Criticality Safety for Fiscal Year 2012.
• January 7, 2013, Department letter accepting Board Recommendation 2012-2, Hanford Tank Farms Flammable Gas Safety Strategy.
• January 3, 2013, Board letter forwarding Technical Report DNFSB/TECH-38, Storage Conditions of Reactive Metal Fuel in L-Basin at the Savannah River Site.
• January 3, 2013, Department letter transmitting the Technical Work Plan and Project Plan of DOE’s project to develop verification and validation test problems and solutions for the System for Analysis of Soil-Structure Interaction (SASSI) computer code.
• January 3, 2013, Board letter establishing a 60-day reporting requirement for DOE senior leadership’s assessment of the current state of public and worker protection for seismic accident scenarios, and the risk reduction measures to be applied to mitigate near term seismic risks of the Plutonium Facility (PF-4) at Los Alamos National Laboratory.