[DOE LETTERHEAD]

December 16, 1998

The Honorable John T. Conway
Chairman
Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board
625 Indiana Avenue, NW, Suite 700
Washington, D.C. 20004

Dear Mr. Chairman:

The Department of Energy (Department) has addressed the safety concerns raised by the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (Board) Recommendation 92-4 on the need for a defined, structured design approach on Tank Waste Remediation System (TWRS) projects.

Hanford's approach for institutionalizing these processes was established in two separate implementation plans. A site-wide systems engineering process was institutionalized at Hanford during execution of the Department's November 7, 1994, implementation plan. Implementation of systems engineering on TWRS projects was successfully demonstrated through the completion of all commitments made in the Department's October 8, 1997, implementation plan.

During the public meeting on August 4, 1998, the Richland Operations Office provided the Board with a detailed discussion on the status of actions addressing Board Recommendation 92-4. We are enclosing a report that provides an overview of that status.

We appreciate the assistance and cooperation of the Board's staff in completing all of the commitments identified in our implementation plan. Accordingly, the Department proposes closure of the Board's recommendation. If you have any questions, please contact Mr. James M. Owendoff, Acting Assistant Secretary for Environmental Management, at (202) 586-7745.

Yours Sincerely,

Bill Richardson
Secretary of Energy

Enclosure

Note: Enclosure is available in [PDF].