DEFENSE NUCLEAR FACILITIES SAFETY BOARD 

August 23, 2013 

MEMORANDUM FOR: Steven Stokes, Acting Technical Director 

FROM: Jonathan Plaue, DNFSB Site Representative 

SUBJECT: LLNL Activity Report for Week Ending August 23, 2013 

DNFSB Staff Activity: On Wednesday, Anderson, Dunlevy, McComb, Ogg, and Shackelford 

conducted a teleconference with personnel from the Livermore Field Office (LFO). The purpose 

of the teleconference was to obtain status on the resolution of open staff issues regarding the 

safety basis for the Waste Storage Facilities. Consistent with recent recommendations, LFO is 

beginning to take steps that drive resolution of issues earlier in the safety basis development and 

review cycle. 

Emergency Management: On Tuesday, the laboratory contractor conducted the annual 

Emergency Planning Hazards Assessment exercise for the Area 625 portion of the Waste Storage 

Facilities. This year’s scenario involved a drum of transuranic (TRU) waste that deflagrated and 

released its contents resulting in localized radioactive contamination—the scenario did not 

include injuries or personnel contamination. In a change from past practice, the contractor 

conducted the initial entry and scene assessment activities performed by Alameda County Fire 

Department personnel in a stop-action training style utilizing two subject matter expert 

controller/evaluators (a firefighter captain and a radcon supervisor). The firefighters clearly 

benefited from this training; however, the contractor will need to balance objectives of training 

and evaluation as they strengthen the drill and exercise program (see weekly report dated August 

9, 2013). 

Plutonium Facility: In a letter dated August 16, 2013, LFO approved the contractor’s request to 

utilize pure oxygen in the oxidation furnace for the plutonium hydride/nitride/oxide system (see 

weekly report dated June 28, 2013). As a condition of approval, LFO mandated designation of a 

gas line restricting orifice as a design feature categorized as Defense-in-Depth Equipment 

Important to Safety. 

 

Management: The contractor is required to submit annually a multi-year performance strategy 

to highlight outcomes and measures to be used to drive improved performance during the 

upcoming five-year window. LFO personnel are currently reviewing the 2013-2017 strategy 

document. The Site Representative noted the following in the current submittal: 

 Programmatically, the contractor’s strategy is silent on the role of the nuclear facilities 

and their capabilities for the complex 

 For nuclear facility operations, the contractor has not defined any out-year deliverables 

and the expected accomplishment is defined as effective and compliant processes—

largely unchanged from last year’s strategy 

 For waste management, the contractor expects to repackage TRU waste drums and to size 

reduce oversized TRU boxes for a 2016 campaign to ship to the Waste Isolation Pilot 

Plant, though quantities are unspecified 

 Stated contributions from parent organizations in the form of Functional Management 

Reviews of interest for the coming fiscal year include: LLNS-LANS integration, 

preventive and corrective maintenance, deinventory, and contractor assurance system 

effectiveness