98-32903. DOE Response to Recommendation 98-1 of the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board, Integrated Safety Management and the Department of Energy (DOE) Facilities.  

  • [Federal Register Volume 63, Number 237 (Thursday, December 10, 1998)]
    [Notices]
    [Page 68262]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 98-32903]
    
    
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    DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
    
    
    DOE Response to Recommendation 98-1 of the Defense Nuclear 
    Facilities Safety Board, Integrated Safety Management and the 
    Department of Energy (DOE) Facilities.
    
    AGENCY: Department of Energy
    
    ACTION: Notice
    
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    SUMMARY: The Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board published 
    Recommendation 98-1, concerning integrated safety management and the 
    Department of Energy (DOE) facilities, on October 6, 1998 (63 FR 
    53646). 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, N.W., Suite 700, Washington, D.C., 20004.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Ellen Livingston-Behan, Senior 
    Program Advisor to the Secretary of Energy, Department of Energy, 1000 
    Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C., 20585.
    
        Issued in Washington, DC on December 2, 1998.
    Theodore Wyka,
    Departmental Representative to the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety 
    Board.
    November 20, 1998.
    The Honorable John T. Conway, Chairman,
    Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board 625 Indiana Avenue, NW., 
    Suite 700,
    Washington, D.C. 20004
    
        Dear Mr. Chairman: Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board 
    (Board) Recommendation 98-1, issued on September 28, 1998, 
    recommends improvements to the Department's program for resolving 
    the findings of its independent internal safety oversight 
    organization. I agree that such improvements will enhance our 
    ability to ensure safety. Thus, the Department accepts Board 
    recommendation 98-1.
        The Department is committed to having an effective internal, 
    independent oversight function as part of an overall safety 
    assurance approach that also includes line management self-
    assessments. The Department's policy on line environment, safety and 
    health oversight clearly establishes our expectations that robust, 
    rigorous and credible contractor self-assessments together with 
    Department line management oversight provide the primary basis for 
    ensuring safety. Concurrently, the Department's Office of Oversight 
    is responsible for independent safety oversight. Its findings are 
    communicated to line management through inspection reports (such as 
    safety management evaluations), topical and issue reviews, special 
    studies, and accident investigations. Adequate and timely resolution 
    of safety findings is the responsibility of line management, which 
    has overall responsibility for performing work safely, gathering and 
    considering safety feedback, and making necessary improvements. By 
    acting on the Board's recommendation, we expect to further clarify 
    these roles and responsibilities, and promote effective 
    communication between line management and the independent oversight 
    organization. Both are essential to the effective resolution of 
    identified oversight findings.
        The Department has completed a preliminary analysis of the 
    issues raised in the Board's recommendation, and has identified the 
    following as the foundation and focus of our implementation plan.
         The plan will describe a consistent, disciplined 
    framework for developing and implementing corrective action plans in 
    response to oversight findings, tracking and reporting status of 
    corrective actions, verifying the completion of corrective actions, 
    and resolving differences or issues that may arise relative to 
    corrective actions. Department directives will be revised to 
    implement the necessary framework.
         The role of the Office of the Secretary in resolving 
    differences or issues that may arise in response to independent 
    oversight findings will be clarified through enhancements to 
    existing Department directives.
        I have asked Ms. Ellen Livingston-Behan, Senior Program Advisor 
    to the Office of the Secretary, to serve as the responsible manager 
    for this recommendation. As the principal point of contact with the 
    Board for this recommendation, she will work with you and your staff 
    to develop an acceptable implementation plan that meets our mutual 
    expectations. If you have questions, please contact her at (202) 
    586-9500.
    
          Yours sincerely,
    Bill Richardson
    [FR Doc. 98-32903 Filed 12-9-98; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
    
    
    

Document Information

Published:
12/10/1998
Department:
Energy Department
Entry Type:
Notice
Action:
Notice
Document Number:
98-32903
Dates:
Comments, data, views, or arguments concerning the Secretary's response are due on or before January 11, 1999.
Pages:
68262-68262 (1 pages)
PDF File:
98-32903.pdf