[DOE
LETTERHEAD]
National Nuclear Security Administration
October l0, 2003
The Honorable John T. Conway
Chairman
Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board
Dear Mr. Chairman:
In your August 19, 2003, letter regarding
lightning protection issues at the Weapons Evaluation Test Facility (WETF) at
the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), you requested a response within 30
days regarding the National Nuclear Security Agency’s (NNSA) plans for establishing
and maintaining defensible lightning protection at WETF and addressing safety
system functional classification issues at the Chemistry and Metallurgy Research
Facility.
NNSA acknowledges and concurs with the
Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board’s (Board) concerns. Los Alamos Site Office and LANL are performing
a thorough review of this situation and considering potential courses of action.
Additionally, LANL has hired Mr. Kim
Merriweather to evaluate the matter and provide a full and complete response to
the Board’s concerns. Therefore, the
Office of Defense Programs requests an additional 30 days to appropriately
respond to your request.
If you have any further questions, please
contact me or have a member of your staff contact Sujita Pierpoint at (301)
903-9601.
Sincerely,
Everet H. Beckner
Deputy Administrator
for Defense Programs
cc: Whitaker,
DR- 1