[DOE LETTERHEAD]

NATIONAL NUCLEAR SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

April 1, 2002

The Honorable John T. Conway
Chairman
Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board
625 Indiana Avenue, NW.
Suite 700
Washington, D.C. 20004-2901

Dear Mr. Chairman:

In your June 25, 1998, letter concerning Building 12-64 at the Pantex Plant, you asked to be informed of any decisions or options to use Building 12-64 for future nuclear explosive operations. We are evaluating the possibility of upgrading this building to allow resumption of its use for nuclear explosive operations.

The enclosed schedule outlines our plan to evaluate the seismic issues you raised in your letter. We invite your staff to observe all scheduled activities. Our goal is to have all issues identified and evaluated prior to the May 28, 2002, submission of the consultant's report and to have the resolution of all issues laid out in the Conceptual Design Report to be finalized by August 14, 2002.

If additional information is needed, please contact me or have your staff contact Xavier Ascanio, Director, Office of Operations and Readiness, at 301-903-3757.

Sincerely,

Everet H. Beckner
Deputy Administrator
for Defense Programs

Enclosure

cc w/enclosure:
M. Whitaker, S-3.1