[DOE LETTERHEAD]

 

July 16, 2003

 

The Honorable John T. Conway

Chairman

Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board

625 Indiana Avenue, NW

Washington, D.C. 20004-2901

 

Dear Mr. Chairman:

 

The purpose of this letter is to report on the status of two commitments in the implementation Plan for Software Quality Assurance (SQA) in response to Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (DNFSB) Recommendation 2002-l.  Commitments 4.1.1 and 4.2.1.2 will be late.  The Department is working to complete these two commitments and accomplish other actions identified in the plan on time.  A project manager has been identified, project plans established, and work on specific commitments is underway.  Specifically:

 

Commitment 4.1.1 is to issue a DOE Notice that identifies roles, responsibilities, and authorities for SQA.  This interim Notice was drafted and preliminary comments from DOE Headquarters program offices and DNFSB staffs have been resolved.  However, the Notice must be formally reviewed and approved through the Department’s directives system.  The Notice was submitted to the Directives Management Team on July 15, 2003, for coordination.  The formal review process will require 30 days, assuming 10 days for additional comment resolution.  The Notice is expected to be issued in September 2003, two months later than the original due date.  The delay of formal approval and issuance of this Notice will not impact other activities associated with developing our SQA program as delineated in the Implementation Plan.

 

Commitment 4.2.1.2 is to establish SQA criteria for safety analysis toolbox codes.  The Department will utilize outside expertise to assist in accomplishing this task.  A scope of work has been negotiated, but there were delays in establishing a funding mechanism to obtain this expertise.  The completion date will move from July 2003 to September 2003.  Every effort will be made to ensure that other activities associated with validating the toolbox codes will not be impacted.

 

Questions concerning these commitments may be directed to Chip Lagdon at (301) 903-4218 or me.

 

 

Sincerely,

 

Beverly A. Cook

Assistant Secretary

Environment, Safety and Health

 

cc:

M. Whitaker, DR-1

F. Russo, EH-3