[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 99 (Monday, May 22, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 32082]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-12761]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


DOE Response to Recommendation 2000-2 of the Defense Nuclear 
Facilities Safety Board, Configuration Management, Vital Safety Systems

AGENCY: Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board Recommendation 
2000-2, concerning the control of safety system configuration, was 
published in the Federal Register on March 16, 2000 (65 FR 14255). 
Under section 315(b) of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, 42 
U.S.C. 2286d(b), the Department of Energy was required to transmit a 
response to the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board by April 28, 
2000. The Secretary's timely response follows.

DATES: Comments, data, views, or arguments concerning the Secretary's 
response are due on or before June 21, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Send comments, data, views, or arguments concerning the 
Secretary's response to: Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board, 625 
Indiana Avenue NW, Suite 700, Washington, DC 20004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Steve Cary, Senior Advisor to the 
Assistant Secretary for Environment, Safety and Health, Department of 
Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20585.

    Issued in Washington, DC on April 28, 2000.
Michael A. Mikolanis,
Office of the Departmental Representative to the Defense Nuclear 
Facilities Safety Board.

The Honorable John T. Conway, Chairman, Defense Nuclear Facilities 
Safety Board, 625 Indiana Avenue, NW, Suite 700, Washington, DC 
20004-2901

    Dear Mr. Chairman: The Department of Energy (DOE) acknowledges 
receipt of Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (Board) 
Recommendation 2000-2, issued on March 8, 2000, regarding safety 
systems vital to the protection of the public, workers, and the 
environment. Along with the analysis contained in the March 2000 
assessment prepared by the Office of the Assistant Secretary for 
Environment, Safety and Health on the impact of safety program 
weaknesses upon ventilation and confinement ventilation systems that 
perform safety functions, the DOE has completed a preliminary 
analysis of the issues raised in the Board's recommendation. The 
conclusions drawn from both of these analyses are consistent with 
the safety issues described in Recommendation 2000-2.
    The Department accepts the recommendations contained in 
Recommendation 2000-2 and will develop an implementation plan to 
accomplish the following actions:
    1. Development of expert-based guidelines for surveying and 
assessing confinement ventilation systems and implementation of a 
plan to identify and correct root cause deficiencies.
    2. Incorporation of open commitments remaining in the action 
plan addressing safety issues related to High Efficiency Particulate 
Air filters.
    3. Evaluation of existing practices and industry models for use 
in establishing a cognizant system engineer concept to strengthen 
the engineering resources available for facility configuration 
management.
    4. Assessment of the availability and sufficiency of DOE 
expertise, identification of actions necessary to ensure expertise 
can be brought to bear in the life-cycle management of vital safety 
systems and that Federal technical expertise on safety systems is 
available to interface with operating contractors when significant 
system problems arise.
    5. Review of line oversight of contractor programs to determine 
whether safety systems, as well as programs essential to system 
operability, are being included in those programs. As necessary, 
identify corrective actions to improve implementation of line 
oversight programs.
    I have asked Mr. Steven Cary, Senior Advisor to the Assistant 
Secretary for Environment, Safety and Health, to serve as the 
responsible manager for this recommendation. Mr. Cary will be the 
principal point of contact with the Board for this recommendation, 
and he will work with you and your staff to develop an acceptable 
implementation plan that meets our mutual expectations. If you have 
questions, please contact him at (202) 586-6151.

        Yours sincerely,

Bill Richardson
 
[FR Doc. 00-12761 Filed 5-19-00; 8:45 am]
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