[SOE LETTERHEAD]

 

February 23, 2004

 

The Honorable John T. Conway

Chairman

Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board

625 Indiana Avenue, NW, Suite 700

Washington, D.C. 20004

 

Dear Mr. Chairman:

 

I am pleased to forward the Annual Report for calendar year 2003, entitled Department of Energy Activities Relating to the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board.  Section 316(b) of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 requires the Department of Energy (Department) to submit a written report to Congress addressing the Department’s activities related to the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (Board).

 

During 2003, the Department received no new recommendations from the Board.  The Department continues to make excellent progress on resolving existing open Board recommendations and implementing other initiatives to assure public health and safety.  These include upgrading the Department’s Federal technical capability, reducing risk through stabilization of excess nuclear materials, and reviewing the NASA Columbia Accident for applicable lessons learned.

 

If you have any questions, please contact me or Mr. Rick A. Dearborn, Assistant Secretary for Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs, at (202) 586-5450 or Mr. Mark B. Whitaker, Jr., Departmental Representative to the Board, at (202) 586-3887.

 

Sincerely,

 

Spencer Abraham

 

Enclosure