[DOE LETTERHEAD]

April 14, 1999

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

Dear Mr. Chairman:

Enclosed is the Low-Level Waste Management Program Research and Development Implementation Plan. The Department of Energy (Department) developed this strategy pursuant to its commitments in the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (DNFSB) Recommendation 94-2 Implementation Plan and the "Quarterly Progress Report for DNFSB Recommendation 94- 2 January through March 1998."

The enclosed document describes the Department's implementation plan to address research and development aimed at reducing the uncertainty of evaluations of the long-term safety of disposed low-level waste and to seek out improved technology to enhance defense-in-depth for long term safety of disposed low-level waste. The document also identifies the roles of the field organizations, the Office of Waste Management and Low-Level and Mixed Low-Level Waste Center of Excellence, the Low-Level Waste Disposal Facility Federal Review Group and the Office of Science and Technology in the research and development implementation process.

The Department has completed the actions related to commitment IX B.4 "Prepare Strategy to Address Low-Level Waste Research and Development" and proposes closure of the commitment. If you have any questions concerning this information, please contact me at (202) 586-7710 or Mark Frei at (202) 586-0370.

Sincerely,

James M. Owendoff
Acting Assistant Secretary
for Environmental Management

Enclosure

Note: This enclosure is not available.