[Federal Register: April 1, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 62)]
[Notices]               
[Page 15734-15735]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr01ap99-67]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

 
Department of Energy Implementation Plan for Recommendation 98-1 
of the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board; Plan To Address and 
Resolve Safety Issues Identified by Internal Independent Oversight

AGENCY: Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (DNFSB) published 
Recommendation 98-1, concerning the effectiveness of the Department of 
Energy (DOE) process to address and resolve the environment, safety and 
health issues identified by internal independent oversight, on October 
6, 1998 (63 FR 53646). Under section 315(e) of the Atomic Energy Act of 
1954, 42 U.S.C. 2286d(e), the DOE must transmit an implementation plan 
for Recommendation 98-1 to the DNFSB after acceptance of the 
Recommendation by the Secretary. The DOE's implementation plan was 
transmitted to the DNFSB on March 10, 1999, and is available for review 
in the DOE Public Reading Rooms.

ADDRESSES: Send comments, data, views, or arguments concerning the 
implementation plan to: U. S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence 
Avenue, SW, Washington, DC, 20585.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Richard C. Crowe, Director, Safety 
Management Implementation Team, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 
Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C., 20585.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on March 25, 1999.
Mark B. Whitaker, Jr.,
Departmental Representative to the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety 
Board.

The Secretary of Energy,

Washington, DC 20585

March 10, 1999.
Hon. John T. Conway,
Chairman, Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board, Washington, DC 
20004.

    Dear Mr. Chairman: We are pleased to forward the enclosed 
Implementation Plan (Plan) for Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety 
Board's (Board) Recommendation 98-1, Department of Energy Plan to 
Address and Resolve Safety Issues Identified by Internal Independent 
Oversight.

[[Page 15735]]

    This Plan addresses the Department's need for a clearly defined, 
systematic, and comprehensive process to address and resolve safety 
issues identified by internal independent oversight. Specifically, 
the Department is taking the following actions to address its needs:
    <bullet> We are establishing a disciplined process and 
clarifying roles and responsibilities for the identification of, and 
response to, safety issues.
    <bullet> We are establishing clearer direction on elevating any 
disputed issues for resolution to the Office of the Secretary, if 
necessary.
    <bullet> We are establishing a tracking and reporting system to 
manage completion of corrective actions effectively.
    The Plan directly supports implementation of Integrated Safety 
Management and was prepared by a cross-organizational team reporting 
directly to me. I have assigned Mr. Richard Crowe, Director of the 
Safety Management Implementation Team, as my Responsible Manager for 
executing this Plan. Mr. Crowe can be reached at (202) 586-1418.
    We appreciate the advice and support provided by the Board and 
its staff during the development of this Plan.
      Yours sincerely,
Bill Richardson.
Enclosure.
[FR Doc. 99-8059 Filed 3-31-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P