[DOE LETTERHEAD]

NATIONAL NUCLEAR SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

February 4, 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 my August 17, 2001, letter, we advised you that a copy of the approved Pantex Plant Fire Alarm System program plan would be provided to you by September 7, 2001. After delays to ensure the plan incorporated adequate management controls and to ensure Fiscal Year (FY) 2002 funding was available, the plan has been approved and is enclosed. Section 1.5 of the plan discusses replacement of the central alarm monitoring station, the second commitment made in my letter. The contractor is nearing award of a three-phase contract for the central alarm monitoring station. The first phase will develop a set of design options; the second phase will develop three of these sufficiently for a Government selection of one to install and the third phase will install the system.

This plan is funded at the level of $6 million in FY 2002. We will review the contractor's progress and provide additional funds should they become necessary and available.

The plan calls for detailed annua1 reviews in which progress will be assessed and the work for the following years revised accordingly. Your staff will be invited to these reviews.

If you have any questions, please contact me or have your staff contact Jeff Underwood at 301-903-8303.

Sincerely,

David E. Beck
Assistant Deputy Administrator
for Military Application and
Stockpile Operations
Defense Programs

Enclosure

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

Note: Please call Jeff Underwood at 301-903-8303 for a copy of this enclosure.