[DNFSB LETTERHEAD]

March 25, 1999

The Honorable Bill Richardson
Secretary of Energy
1000 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20585-1000

Dear Secretary Richardson:

The Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (Board) recently received the Department of Energy's (DOE) request to close Recommendation 93-1, Standards Utilization at Defense Nuclear Facilities, issued to DOE on January 21, 1993. During the past few years, the Board and DOE have worked to improve the DOE Orders related to the safety of nuclear explosive operations. DOE's actions to implement Recommendation 93-1 and the related Nuclear Explosive Safety Study Corrective Action Plan have yielded the 452-Series Orders, standards, and guide, which represent a significant improvement in the process for achieving safety in nuclear explosive operations.

The Board accepts the proposal to close Recommendation 93-1. The Board notes that DOE has committed to continue efforts to apply the new nuclear explosive directives as it works to strengthen safety management at Pantex in response to Recommendation 98-2, Safety Management at the Pantex Plant. The Board and its staff will track the implementation of Recommendation 98-2 to ensure that these actions are accomplished.

Sincerely

John T. Conway
Chairman

c:
Mr. Mark B. Whitaker, Jr.