[DOE LETTERHEAD]

October 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:

The purpose of this letter is to respond to your June 27, 2002, letter regarding High-Level Waste (HLW) activities at the Savannah River Site (SRS) and to provide a summary (enclosed) of the Department of Energy's (DOE) plans for further development of alternatives technologies to remove cesium from salt waste. Also in that letter, the Board identified five areas that warrant continued DOE senior management attention. The following provides an update on each of these:

Issue 1: Continued acceleration of salt waste processing reduces risk.

DOE continues to accelerate activities to dispose of salt waste at the SRS. A comprehensive and performance-based program is in place to begin dissolving low-curie salt and preparing it for disposal at the Saltstone Facility later this year. Additionally, development of an actinide removal capability that will allow for further salt waste disposal via the Saltstone Facility is planned to be operational in calendar year (CY) 2004.

DOE continues to seek other opportunities to actively promote SRS salt disposition activities. In CY 2003, DOE's two engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractors for the Salt Waste Processing Facility (SWPF) will begin conceptual design for a enhanced caustic side solvent extraction (CSSX) process. Furthermore, the Accelerate Salt Retrieval, Processing, and Disposition at the Savannah River Site project has been established and funded under the Office of Science and Technology. The exploration of alternative technologies for cesium removal is anticipated to comprise a large component of this project.

Issue 2: Potential for a three-year feed break at the Defense Waste Processing Facility (DWPF).

SRS is focused on accelerating waste removal and treatment activities in the tank farms to avoid a feed break. The necessary waste removal activities are included in the SRS Program Performance Management Plan. These activities will be included in the next revision of the HLW system plan, so that both documents will show no feed break for DWPF operations. To reinforce these actions, Savannah River is developing performance-based incentives (PBIs) for Sludge Batch 4. These PBIs will focus the contractor on completing the required activities for Sludge Batch 4 to ensure there is no feed break. There are no new technologies required for removal or preparation of Sludge Batch 4.

Issue 3: DWPF recycle waste disposal.

DOE is directing the contractor to identify options for recycle disposition (i.e., salt dissolution, pre-treatment prior to the Effluent Treatment Facility, DWPF evaporator, etc.). We are planning to have a recommended option by October 31, 2002. In addition, DOE has tasked the contractor to develop and implement a plan for sending recycle to the Saltstone Facility as a parallel disposal path. At the present time, recycle inventory continues to be successfully reduced by evaporation in the tank farm.

Issue 4: Safe operation of the Saltstone Facility.

Recent operational issues demonstrated the need for a thorough, detailed evaluation of existing and new hazards associated with processing low-activity salt waste through this facility. DOE recently directed a hazards and controls review of the facility and corrective actions and modifications are being implemented. DOE will closely monitor the Saltstone Facility's performance. The facility will process the remaining Tank 50 inventory followed by the introduction of the low curie salt waste stream by the end of this CY.

Issue 5: Effect of low-activitv salt waste disposal on the feed stream for the SWPF.

SRS recently revised the feed basis document for the SWPF. Presently, we do not know how successful the low-curie and ,actinide removal salt disposal processes will be. Due to this condition, the feed basis has been updated to reflect an upper and a lower bound. The lower bound reflects only minimal success with alternative disposition of salt waste. The upper bound reflects what is believed to be the maximum amount of salt waste undergoing alternative disposal. The upper bound will result in a smaller quantity, but more concentrated salt stream (i.e., higher radionuclide and chemical content) than what was originally planned going to SWPF. As a result, this will be the most challenging feed stream for the SWPF. The feed basis document will be provided to the EPCs for incorporation into their designs. We are reviewing it to ensure the CSSX process can adequately treat salt waste with the maximum radionuclide and chemical content. Our plans for development of alternative cesium removal activities at the SRS are enclosed. Please note that our plan focuses heavily on reducing risk and optimizing all of the salt processing activities at SRS. The information in this report was extracted from the draft 2003 Science and Technology Project Plan. A final copy of SRS's 2003 project plan will be provided to the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (DNFSB) staff when it is available in October.

In summary, we have a clearer strategy for safely and expeditiously processing the High-Level Waste at the SRS. We are working closely to accelerate HLW disposal activities in the near-term. I am confident that real progress is being made and the groundwork for future progress is well thought out. Over the next year, we will continue to demonstrate our progress in disposing of the HLW at the Savannah River Site. We will continue to work closely with DNFSB staff to communicate our plans and achievements in meeting DNFSB Recommendation 2001-l. If you have any further questions, please contact me at (202) 586-7709 or Paul Golan at (202) 586-0738.

Sincerely,

Jessie Hill Roberson
Assistant Secretary for
Environmental Management

Enclosure

cc: Mark Whitaker, S-3.1
Jeffrey M. Allison, SRS