[DOE LETTERHEAD]
National
Nuclear Security Administration
May 16, 2005
The Honorable A. J. Eggenberger
Acting Chairman
Defense Nuclear Facilities
Safety Board
625 Indiana Avenue, N.W., Suite
700
Washington, DC 20004-2901
Dear Dr. Eggenberger:
On March 18, 2005, the Defense
Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (Board) sent a letter to the National Nuclear
Security Administration (NNSA) requesting results of a condition assessment and
mapping of building leaks and structural cracks at the Device Assembly Facility
at the Nevada Test Site. �The enclosures
to this letter contain the assessment and mapping of building leaks; folder 1
contains photographs of building leaks; folder 2 contains the leak locations
plotted on floor plans, and includes a summary table identifying the probable
source of the leaks. �Results of the
building leak assessment were discussed with your staff on April 27, 2005. �This discussion included our path forward for
the planning and repairing of building leaks on a priority basis. �A copy of our final plan to repair these leaks
will be provided to you once completed.
Mapping of the structural cracks
is underway. �Results of the preliminary
survey were also discussed with your staff. �The final results will be provided to the
Board by June 2005. �In addition, steps have been taken
to start the comprehensive review of the structural capability of the Device
Assembly Facility. �A draft Seismic
Analysis and Evaluation Plan has been developed and discussed with your staff. �This plan includes Probabilistic Seismic
Hazard Analysis, Geotechnical Investigation, Site Response Analysis,
Soil-Structure Interaction Analysis and Building Evaluation, and Qualification of
Installed Safety Equipment. �This plan is
expected to be finalized in the next 30 days.
NNSA will keep the Board and its
staff apprised of the progress on resolving this issue.
If you have any questions,
please contact me or have your staff call Ms. Laura Tomlinson at the Nevada
Site Office, telephone number 702-295-2588.
Sincerely,
Linton F. Brooks
Administrator
Enclosures
cc: ��K. Carlson, NSO, w/o enclosures
M.
Whitaker. DR-1, w/o enclosures