Menu
Departmental Representative to the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board
Waste Isolation Pilot Plant
JUMP TO YEAR:
2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011
2010-1992
This page last updated Thursday, December 19, 2024
Key Documents & Information
- EHSS-1.1 Site Contact
- WIPP Website
- Related Recommendations: 2011-1, 95-2, 93-3, 91-3
Chronicle of Related Correspondence
- December 17, 2024, Board letter regarding DOE Order 151.1E, Comprehensive Emergency Management System, and the NNSA Administrator's memorandum dated September 18, 2023, which advised NNSA field office managers to delegate the approvals of revisions to some emergency program documents.
- December 6, 2024, Board letter regarding DOE's application of Standard 3009-2014, Preparation of Nonreactor Nuclear Facility Documented Safety Analysis, and establishing a 120-day reporting requirement for a briefing and report that contains: 1) DOE's plans to transition facility DSAs to DOE Standard 3009-2014, 2) DOE's rationale for facilities that will not transition to DOE Standard 3009-2014 within 5 years, 3) DOE's plans to ensure wide and timely implementation of new safe harbors that strengthen safety requirements.
- November 26, 2024, Department response letter regarding the revision to DOE Order 425.1D, Verification of Readiness to Start Up or Restart Nuclear Facilities.
- November 15, 2024, Board letter concerning the DOE development of Oder 421.1, Nuclear Safety Basis and establishing a 60-day reporting requirement, and before the new order is issued, for a report and briefing regarding DOE's path forward for issuing DOE Order 421.1.
- November 14, 2024, Department letter providing response to the Board letter dated May 15, 2024, regarding the final design of the continuous air monitor system for the WIPP Safety Significant Confinement Ventilation System
- October 7, 2024, Department letter transmitting the Implementation Plan for Recommendation 2023-1, Onsite Transportation Safety
- August 22, 2024, Department letter stating that DOE is taking a 45-Day extension to complete the Implementation Plan for Recommendation 2023-1, Onsite Transportation Safety.
- July 17, 2024, Board letter providing its report entitled, Plutonium Storage Container Fire Testing, which outlines technical issues with the development and conduct of the tests. The Board encourages DOE to consider the limitations indicated by these issues when its contractors use the test results in safety analyses or develop future test protocols in this area.
- June 21, 2024, Department letter documenting completion of Milestone 5.4.3 of the DOE Implementation Plan for Recommendation 2020-1, Nuclear Safety Requirements.
- May 15, 2024, Board letter providing its review of the final design of the continuous air monitor (CAM) system for the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) Safety Significant Confinement Ventilation System (SSCVS) and establishing a 60-day reporting requirement for a written response and briefing to address the Board's safety concerns over whether the CAM system can reliably perform its safety functions.
- April 26, 2024, Report to Congress: Fiscal Year 2023 Department of Energy Activities Relating to the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board
- April 24, 2024, Department letter transmitting Milestone 5.1.4, "Implement Best Practices and Process Enhancements Based on Results of Benchmarking Review," of the Department's Implementation Plan for Recommendation 2020-1, Nuclear Safety Requirements.
- January 30, 2024, Department letter transmitting the FY2023 Annual Nuclear Criticality Safety Metrics Report
- January 29, 2024, Department letter transmitting Deliverable 5.1.3 of the Implementation Plan for Recommendation 2020-1, Nuclear Safety Requirements
- October 11, 2023, Board letter providing its preliminary review of DOE's Benchmark Review Final Report for Aging Infrastructure Management.
- September 26, 2023, Department letter transmitting Deliverables 5.1.2, Perform Benchmark Review, of the Implementation Plan for Recommendation 2020-1, Nuclear Safety Requirements.
- July 13, 2023, Board letter regarding the DOE Safety Software Central Registry as a follow up to the Board's letter dated August 24, 2022, and DOE's status briefing to the Board on June 8, 2023.
- April 26, 2023, Department letter responding to the Board letter of August 17, 2022, and providing DOE/NNSA's evaluation of safety oversight processes at defense nuclear facilities.
- January 31, 2023, Department letter providing the FY 2022 Annual Metrics Report on Nuclear Criticality Safety Programs.
- November 2, 2022, Department letter responding to the Board letter of June 16, 2022, on the implementation of the USQ process following a PSHA update as detailed in DNFSB TECH-47, Seismic Hazard Assessments.
- October 28, 2022, Department extension letter to provide the response to the Board's letter of August 17, 2022, regarding DOE oversight effectiveness by March 2023.
- October 20, 2022, Board letter informing DOE of the delayed responses on open DNFSB reporting requirements.
- August 18, 2022, Board letter providing its assessment of the DOE Implementation Plan for Recommendation 2020-1, Nuclear Safety Requirements.
- August 17, 2022, Board letter providing the results of its review of DOE Oversight Effectiveness and establishing a 120-day reporting requirement for a report and briefing regarding DOE's plans to address the safety matters discussed in the Board staff report.
- August 17, 2022, Board letter concerning the WIPP 700C fan restart efforts and providing additional information for DOE's considerations relating to WIPP safety-related instrumentation and control systems.
- June 27, 2022, Department of Energy Implementation Plan (IP) for Recommendation 2020-1, Nuclear Safety Requirements
- June 16, 2022, Board letter establishing a 45-day reporting requirement for a written response on implementation of the unreviewed safety question (USQ) process following a probabilistic seismic hazard analysis (PSHA) update as detailed in the DNFSB Technical Report (TECH-47), Seismic Hazard Assessments.
- June 1, 2022, Supplementary Agreement for Memorandum of Understanding Between the U.S. Department of Energy and the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board
- March 30, 2022, Department letter providing the FY 2021 Annual Nuclear Criticality Safety Program Metrics report.
- February 17, 2022, DOE-DNFSB Memorandum of Understanding
- February 1, 2022, Department letter responding to the DNFSB letter dated September 8, 2021, regarding DOE's plan for safely managing nuclear waste materials containing mixtures of nitric acid or nitrate salts with polysaccharides.
- January 6, 2022, Board letter revising the annual reporting requirement for DOE to annually provide a report and briefing for the Nuclear Criticality Safety Program.
- December 14, 2021, Department letter responding to the Board letter and Technical Report (DNFSB-TECH-47), Seismic Hazard Assessment, dated June 10, 2021.
- December 2, 2021, Board letter extending the due date to January 31, 2022, for DOE to provide the written report concerning DOE's plan for safely managing nuclear waste materials containing mixtures of nitric acid or nitrate salts with polysaccharides, in response to the Board's letter dated September 8, 2021.
- November 8, 2021, Board letter requesting DOE to provide an updated date for delivering DOE's response to the Board's June 10, 2021, letter and Technical Report-47, Seismic Hazard Assessments.
- September 8, 2021, Board letter establishing a 90-day reporting requirement for a report and briefing that describes DOE’s plan for safely managing nuclear waste materials containing mixtures of nitric acid or nitrate salts with polysaccharides.
- August 31, 2021, Department letter for a 45-day extension to provide the response to the Board’s letter dated June 10, 2021, and technical report DNFSB/TECH-47, Seismic Hazard Assessments.
- August 13, 2021, Board letter transmitting the report from its review of the December 9, 2018, failure of the safety instrumented alarm system at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP), and of DOE’s subsequent response/recovery actions. The report is provided for DOE’s information and use.
- July 26, 2021, Board letter establishing a 60-day reporting requirement for DOE to brief the Board to address concerns and planned implementation of the revised DOE Standard 5506, Preparation of Safety Basis Documents for Transuranic (TRU) Waste Facilities.
- March 23, 2021, Board letter providing a courtesy copy of the DNFSB Annual Report to Congress for Calendar Year 2020.
- February 25, 2021, Board letter congratulating Secretary Granholm on her confirmation as the Secretary of Energy and requesting an opportunity to meet with the Secretary to discuss the memorandum of understanding between our two agencies as well as safety challenges and opportunities.
- May 29, 2020, Board letter providing the results of its review of the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant safety basis for DOE’s information and use.
- March 17, 2020, Board letter providing the Secretary a courtesy copy of its Annual Report to Congress for calendar year 2019.
- February 13, 2020, DOE Briefings to DNFSB: DNFSB Concerns with the Safety Significant Confinement Ventilation System Project at WIPP.
- January 29, 2020, Board letter providing specific areas of concern related to DOE Standard 5506, Preparation of Safety Basis Documents for Transuranic (TRU) Waste Facilities.
- January 16, 2020, Board letter congratulating Secretary Brouillette on his confirmation as the Secretary of Energy and highlighting key challenges associated with defense nuclear facilities.
- December 20, 2019, Department letter responding to the Board letter of August 27, 2019, regarding the safety significant confinement ventilation system at WIPP.
- December 18, 2019, Board letter transmitting an anonymous allegation regarding the ventilation systems at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant to the Secretary for action as the Secretary deems appropriate.
- December 9, 2019, Board letter granting a 25-day extension to provide a report and brief outlining plans to address safety issues with the Safety Significant Confinement Ventilation System (SSCVS), at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant.
- November 25, 2019, Department letter requesting a 25-day extension to provide response to the Board's August 27, 2019, letter regarding the Safety Significant Confinement Ventilation System at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant.
- August 27, 2019, Board letter establishing a 90-day reporting requirement for plans to address safety issues with the safety significant confinement ventilation system at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant.
- May 21, 2019, FY2018 Annual Report to Congress on DOE's activities relating to the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board.
- April 1, 2019, DNFSB Twenty-Ninth Annual Report to Congress for Calendar Year 2018.
- November 13, 2018, Board letters (5) inviting the NNSA and DOE-EM Field Office Managers and personnel at LANL, SNL, and WIPP to appear at the Board’s public hearing on DOE’s interface with the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board be scheduled in February 2019 in Albuquerque, NM.
- September 24, 2018, Board letter providing a summary of safety issues with maintenance and inspection processes and procedures at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant for DOE’s information and use.
- September 3, 2018, FY2017 Annual Report to Congress on DOE's activities relating to the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board.
- August 15, 2018, DOE Briefings to DNFSB: Waste Isolation Pilot Plant Ground Control.
- June 4, 2018, Board letter congratulating Ms. Anne Marie White on her confirmation as Assistant Secretary of Energy for Environmental Management and providing a brief summary of some of the Board’s current nuclear safety oversight activities at the Office of Environmental Management’s Defense Nuclear Facilities.
- March 26, 2018, Board letter describing the concern that the final design documentation for the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) safety significant confinement ventilation system (SSCVS) does not adequately address design requirements for the full integration of the underground safety significant continuous air monitoring system.
- March 23, 2018, DNFSB Twenty-Eighth Annual Report to Congress for Calendar Year 2017.
- March 15, 2018, Board letter transmitting the DNFSB Technical Report (DNFSB/TECH-43) entitled, Deficiencies in DOE Standard 5506-2007, Preparation of Safety Basis Documents for Transuranic (TRU) Waste Facilities, for DOE’s information and use.
- May 1, 2017, FY2016 Annual Report to Congress on DOE's activities relating to the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board.
- April 27, 2017, DNFSB Twenty-Seventh Annual Report to Congress for Calendar Year 2016.
- February 2, 2017, DOE Briefings to DNFSB: WIPP Sustainment.
- December 13, 2016, Board letter establishing a 30-day reporting requirement for a briefing on the safety of operations at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant.
- September 5, 2016, FY2015 Annual Report to Congress on DOE's activities relating to the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board.
- August 11, 2016, DOE Briefings to DNFSB: WIPP Update - National TRU Program Improvements.
- July 29, 2016, Board letter establishing a reporting requirement for DOE’s notification to the Board prior to the transfer of remediated nitrate salt wastes currently stored at the Waste Control Specialists facility in Andrews, TX to any defense nuclear facility.
- March 30, 2016, DNFSB Twenty-Sixth Annual Report to Congress for Calendar Year 2015.
- March 28, 2016, Board letter documenting its review of the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant Documented Safety Analysis for DOE’s information and use as DOE continues efforts to resume safe transuranic waste activities at WIPP.
- February 19, 2016, Board Project Letter documenting the results of the Board's staff review of the safety design strategy and supporting technical documents for Critical Decision 1 for the Underground Ventilation System at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant.
- July 21, 2015, Department letter transmitting the Office of Environmental Management's deliverable for Action 2-13 (site-specific safety culture sustainment tools) of the Implementation Plan for Recommendation 2011-1, Safety Culture at the Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant.
- July 6, 2015, FY2014 Annual Report to Congress on DOE's activities relating to the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board.
- April 7, 2015, Board letter inviting Secretary Moniz or his designee to participate in the DNFSB public meeting and hearing at the Waste Isolation Project Plant in Carlsbad, NM on April 29, 2015.
- March 11, 2015, DNFSB Twenty-Fifth Annual Report to Congress for Calendar Year 2014.
- November 13, 2014, Department letter transmitting the Office of Environmental Management’s deliverable for Action 2-12 of the Implementation Plan for Recommendation 2011-1, Safety Culture at the Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant.
- July 9, 2014, Department letter transmitting the FY2013 Annual Report on Nuclear Criticality Safety.
- June 6, 2014, FY2013 Annual Report to Congress on DOE's activities relating to the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board.
- April 4, 2014, Department letter responding to the Board’s letter of March 12, 2014, regarding the evaluation of the ventilation system at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) and evaluation of the safety controls and contingency plans necessary to maintain confinement to ensure adequate protection of the workers and the public.
- March 28, 2014, Board letter establishing a 7-day reporting requirement for a briefing to (1) identify emergency management resources needed to augment WIPP response capabilities, and (2) identify specific preconditions and contingency plans being implemented to ensure protection of the public and workers in case of another radiological release event during reentry activities.
- March 21, 2014, Board letter transmitting the Board’s response to Senator Udall and Senator Heinrich regarding two recent events at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant.
- March 12, 2014, Board letter regarding the unanticipated release of radioactive material at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP).
- March 6, 2014, DNFSB Twenty-Fourth Annual Report to Congress for Calendar Year 2013.
- September 6, 2013, FY2012 Annual Report to Congress on DOE's activities relating to the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board.
- March 27, 2013, Board letter transmitting its Twenty-Third Annual Report to Congress for Calendar Year 2012.
- September 27, 2012, Department letter responding to the Board letter of June 27, 2012, regarding safety issues with the maintenance program at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP).
- June 27, 2012, Board letter establishing a 90-day reporting requirement identifying actions taken or planned by DOE to resolve safety issues associated with the maintenance program at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant.
- June 8, 2012, FY2011 Annual Report to Congress on DOE's activities relating to the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board.
- February 17, 2012, DNFSB Twenty-Second Annual Report to Congress for Calendar Year 2011.
- December 21, 2011, Department letter responding to the Board’s letter of June 24, 2011, regarding actions taken or planned to address weaknesses in the fire protection program at WIPP.
- August 29, 2011, FY2010 Annual Report to Congress on DOE's activities relating to the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board.
- June 24, 2011, Board letter establishing a 180-day reporting requirement on actions taken or planned by DOE to address weaknesses in the fire protection program at WIPP.
- March 15, 2011, Department letter transmitting the DOE Annual Report on Nuclear Criticality Safety for calendar year 2010.
- February 8, 2011, DNFSB Twenty-First Annual Report to Congress for Calendar Year 2010.
- January 20, 2011, Department letter transmitting the response to the Board's October 22, 2010 report regarding work planning and control at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant.
