[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 171 (Tuesday, September 6, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-21875]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: September 6, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
DOE Response to Recommendation 94-1, Improved Schedule for
Remediation in the Defense Nuclear Complex of the Defense Nuclear
Facilities Safety Board
AGENCY: Department of Energy.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: Section 315(b) of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended,
42 U.S.C. 2286d(b) requires the Department of Energy to publish its
response to Defense Nuclear Facility Safety Board recommendations for
notice and public comment. The Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board
published Recommendation 94-1, concerning an improved schedule for
remediation in the defense nuclear facilities complex, in the Federal
Register on June 3, 1994 (59 FR 28848).
DATES: Comments, data, views, or arguments concerning the Secretary's
response are due on or before October 6, 1994.
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. Thomas P. Grumbly, Assistant Secretary for Environmental
Management, Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue SW.,
Washington, DC 20585.
Issued in Washington, DC, on August 24, 1994.
James M. Ahlgrimm,
Acting 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.
Dear Mr. Chairman: This letter responds to your Recommendation
91-1, Improved Schedule for Remediation in the Defense Nuclear
Complex, of May 26, 1994. The Department shares the concerns
outlined in your letter, and we agree that there is a need to take
timely action to place the substances formerly used in the
manufacture of nuclear weapons into a state suitable for safe
interim storage. There are significant activities underway, such as
the Plutonium Vulnerability Study and the associated Management Plan
to address many of the hazards cited in your Recommendation.
Your Recommendation calls for an integrated program plan to be
formulated on a high priority basis to convert, within two to three
years, the specific materials cited in the Recommendation to forms
or conditions suitable for safe interim storage. The Department
commits to develop a plan that will include the following
initiatives:
a systems engineering approach to maximize the integration of
facilities and capabilities while minimizing worker exposures and
additional waste;
research programs required to fill any gaps in the technological
information base;
identification of those facilities that may be needed for future
handling and treatment of these materials;
ensuring operational readiness in accordance with DOE Order 5480.31.
This integrated program plan will develop detailed schedules for
specific activities cited in the Recommendation and will include
critical path activities; decision points, and resource
considerations necessary for successful program initiation and
completions. The plan will be utilized as a tool to assist in
determining the appropriate course of action to expeditiously
convert the material discussed in specific recommendations 3 through
7 to a form or condition more suitable for interim storage.
The Department accepts Recommendation 94-1 conditioned upon the
understanding that complete conversion of all materials cited in
your Recommendation may not be accomplished within the time periods
described in the Recommendation. We look forward to working closely
with you and your staff to develop a responsive Implementation Plan
and activity schedules that meet our common goals. The
Implementation Plan will be forwarded to you in accordance with 42
U.S.C. 2286d.
If you have further questions, please contact me, or have a
member of your staff contact Mr. Thomas Grumbly, Assistant Secretary
for Environmental Management, at (202) 586-7710.
Sincerely,
Hazel R. O'Leary.
[FR Doc. 94-21875 Filed 9-2-94; 8:45 am]
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