[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 237 (Thursday, December 10, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68261-68262]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-32902]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
DOE Response to Recommendation 98-2 of the Defense Nuclear
Facilities Safety Board, Safety Management at the Pantex Plant
AGENCY: Department of Energy.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board published
Recommendation 98-2, concerning safety management at the Pantex plant,
on October 7, 1998 (63 FR 53884). Section 315(b) of the Atomic Energy
Act of 1954, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 2286d(b) required the Department of
Energy to transmit a response to the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety
Board by November 20, 1998. The Secretary's response follows.
DATES: Comments, data, views, or arguments concerning the Secretary's
response are due on or before January 11, 1999.
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. Gene Ives, Deputy Assistant
Secretary for Military Application and Stockpile Management, Defense
Programs, Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW,
Washington, DC, 20585.
Issued in Washington, DC, on December 3, 1998.
Theodore Wyka,
Deputy to the Departmental Representative to the Defense Nuclear
Facilities Safety Board.
The Secretary of Energy,
Washington, DC 20585
November 20, 1998.
The Honorable John T. Conway,
Chairman, Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board, 625 Indiana
Avenue, NW, Suite 700, Washington, DC 20004.
Dear Mr. Chairman: This letter acknowledges receipt of your
Recommendation 98-2, issued on September 30, 1998, and published in
the Federal Register on October 7, 1998, dealing with Safety
Management at the Pantex Plant. The Department accepts
Recommendation 98-2 and will develop an Implementation Plan to the
following approach:
(1) The activities undertaken in the Implementation Plan will be
aimed at simplifying and standardizing activity level safety
management processes for all work involving nuclear explosives at
the Pantex Plant. Implementation Plan activities involving Nuclear
Explosive Safety Studies will also be focused on simplification and
standardization of practices and processes. Overall, the objective
of the Implementation Plan will be to ensure practical and timely
implementation of safety improvements and will better allow for
tailoring of SS-21 principles.
(2) The Department recognizes the need to modify the existing
change control process in order to improve process efficiency and
consistency. An efficient process to tailor the amount of rigor
involved in implementing changes while maintaining an adequate
safety margin will be pursued.
(3) Roles, responsibilities and authorities will be clarified so
that the Pantex contractor is accountable for the adequacy of
nuclear explosive operations and safety documentation at the Pantex
Plant. In doing so, the Pantex contractor will have the ability to
call on the technical expertise of the National Laboratories.
(4) The Department recognizes the need to clarify the
independent role of the Nuclear Explosive Safety Studies Groups. The
Nuclear Explosive Safety Studies should focus on a scope of work
established by line management and approved by the
[[Page 68262]]
appropriate Department of Energy Authorization Official.
(5) The Department will develop and implement options necessary
to sustain a technically competent Nuclear Explosive Safety Study
Group talent pool.
(6) The Department recognizes the need to pursue the safety
management enhancement sought in Recommendation 98-2 consistent with
the development of the Pantex Integrated Safety Management System as
part of the Implementation Plan for Recommendation 95-2.
The Deputy Assistant Secretary for Military Application and
Stockpile Management, Defense Programs, is the Responsible Manager
for the preparation of the Implementation Plan. He will work with
you to develop an acceptable plan, meeting our mutual expectations.
Yours sincerely,
Bill Richardson.
[FR Doc. 98-32902 Filed 12-9-98; 8:45 am]
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