[DNFSB LETTERHEAD]

February 23, 1999

Mr. Joseph W. Parks
Assistant Manager for Enrichment Facilities
Oak Ridge Operations Office
200 Administration Road
Oak Ridge, TN 37831

Dear Mr. Parks,

The Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (Board) commends you on the occasion of your retirement from the Department of Energy, Oak Ridge Operations Office, after many years of dedicated service. It has been a pleasure working with you on the implementation of Board Recommendation 95-1, Improved Safety of Cylinders Containing Depleted Uranium. Your leadership and direction of the Department of Energy's implementation of Recommendation 95-1 played a significant role in the success of this ongoing effort to slow the degradation of cylinders from external corrosion and to improve the Department of Energy's overall stewardship of this vast inventory of depleted uranium hexafluoride.

In addition, I remember with fondness the beginning of our association, working on the formula for establishing the value of the enriched uranium product from the gaseous diffusion plants. Your retirement will be a loss to the Department of Energy, and to the enrichment community, in particular.

The Board appreciates the high degree of technical competence, effective leadership, and personal commitment that you have displayed throughout all of our interactions. We wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors.

Sincerely,

John T. Conway
Chairman

c:
Mr. Mark B. Whitaker, Jr.
Mr. Steven D. Richardson