**\[DOE LETTERHEAD\]**

**NATIONAL NUCLEAR DECURITY ADMINISTRATION**

December 2, 2003

The Honorable John T. Conway

Chairman, Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board

625 Indiana Avenue, NW, Suite 700

Washington, D.C. 20004-2901

Dear Mr. Chairman:

Progress toward reduction of hazards at Y-12 National Security Complex
Building 9206 has been a concern of the Board and shared by BWXT Y-12,
and the National Nuclear Security Administration Y-12 Site Office
(NNSA-YSO). Through a team effort, substantial progress has been made
recently toward resolving this concern. The purpose of this letter is to
update you on this progress and highlight some future activities that
are scheduled.

The extraction systems at Building 9206 have contained
uranium-contaminated solutions in out-of-service process equipment since
1994. The potential for leaks could needlessly expose workers to
contaminated solutions and substantial cleanup would be required should
one of the tanks be breached. On June 23, 2003, a major milestone was
reached when the first major drain, the secondary extraction columns,
was completed. On October 31, 2003, we completed the initial removal of
material from the Primary Extraction system. Completion of these
activities removes the largest uranium solution inventory in process
equipment and paves the way for future drains. By removing a significant
source term, it also addresses a previous discovery condition related to
a potential fire at Building 9206.

While this reduction of hazard is an extremely positive development,
equally significant is the material disposition activities that
dovetailed with the deactivation activities. Close coordination between
the Building 9206 Deactivation Project, the Nuclear Material Stewardship
Program, the Highly Enriched Uranium Disposition Program Office, and
NNSA-YSO staff, has made it possible to disposition more than 80 safe
bottles of waste solution. Working in parallel, the disposition project
made adequate storage space available at Building 9206 just when those
spaces were needed for drained solution. In fact, the safe bottles
containing waste solution were cleaned and reused for drained solution
saving material cost and reducing waste generation.

BWXT Y-12 and NNSA-YSO are committed to continuing the momentum toward
near term hazard reduction and final deactivation of Building 9206. Now
that the extraction columns have been drained, work will continue into
fiscal year 2004 to complete the deactivation of both the primary and
secondary extraction systems. Early in this fiscal year, we will be
removing a significant quantity of clean nitric acid from Building 9206
and shipping the material to the Savannah River Site for reuse. Fiscal
year 2004 funding also includes cleanout and deactivation of the Skull
Calciner System. This cleanout will resolve the filter house issues
discussed in the weekly Site Representative report dated January 25,
2002.

In summary, we are encouraged that BWXT is making strong progress toward
the deactivation of Building 9206 through the completion of these risk
reduction activities, and it is our intent to continue the emphasis in
this area. If you have any questions regarding our progress or other
related issues, please do not hesitate to call me at (865) 576-0752.

Sincerely,

***William J. Brumley***

***Manager***

***Y-12 Site Office***

cc:

T. D. Sherry, Y12-01, YSO

D. J. Dearolph, Y12-01, YSO

J. R. Martin, Y12-10, YSO

S. L. Daly, Y12-20, YSO

T. B. Olberding, Y12-30, YSO

D. K. Hoag, Y12-40, YSO

K. D. Ivey, Jr., Y12-50, YSO

M. B. Whitaker, DR-1, FOR

E. H. Beckner, NA-10, FOR

X. Ascanio, NA-124, GTN

D. F. Owen, 9704-2, MS 8017, DNFSB