[DOE LETTERHEAD]
January 21, 2003
The Honorable John T. Conway
Chairman
Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board
625 Indiana Avenue, NW, Suite 700
Washington, DC 20004-2901
Dear Mr. Chairman:
The Department has completed the preparation
of Tank 37 as a receipt tank for the Savannah River Site’s 3H Evaporator as
outlined in Commitment 3.7 of the Implementation Plan for Defense Nuclear
Facilities Safety Board’s Recommendation
2001-l.
All physical modifications and tie-ins have been completed and sufficient
space has been made available to sustain 3H operations. Actual use of Tank 37 as a receipt tank for
the 3H evaporator occurred on January 11, 2003.
The initial transfer of low curie salt to
the Saltstone facility (Commitment 2.9 of the 2001-l Implementation Plan) was
not met by the December 31, 2002 due date.
Saltstone startup problems, the discovery of excessive solids in the
bottom of Tank 50, and delays in facility permit modifications contributed to
not meeting this commitment. Saltstone
operational problems have been resolved; however, disposition of the Tank 50
solids issue and receipt of permit modifications are not expected until
mid-2003.
In addition, 2001-l Implementation Plan
Commitment 3.4 (Return Tank 50 to Service by March 31, 2003) will likely be
missed due to the excessive solids in Tank 50.
As a result of the current uncertainty surrounding the Tank 50 solids
and permitting activities, the Department proposes to provide new expected
completion dates for Commitments 2.9 and 3.4 by June 2003.
Questions you or your staff may have
concerning these issues may be directed to Jeff Allison at 803-725-2405 or me.
Sincerely,
Paul M. Golan
Chief Operating Officer
cc: Mark Whitaker, S-3.1