[DOE LETTERHEAD]

 

NATIONAL NUCLEAR SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

 

June 5, 2003

 

The Honorable John T. Conway

Chairman

Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board

625 Indiana Avenue, NW.

Suite 700

Washington, D.C. 20004

 

Dear Mr. Chairman:

 

Ambassador Brooks has asked me to respond to your letter of April 4, 2003, concerning training deficiencies at the Pantex Plant.  The contractor’s plans to address the six deficiencies noted in its operations are described in the enclosed letter.  The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) has reviewed these actions and believe they will adequately address your concerns.  To further address the training deficiencies outlined in your letter we will integrate upgrading of weapon trainers at Pantex into the priorities of each weapon program.

 

In your letter you made the following observations about Federal oversight of the contractor’s training:

 

• DOE O 5480.20A tasks DOE field managers to conduct periodic systematic assessments of training using a DOE standard that requires evaluations every 3 years.
• The Pantex Site Office’s (PXSO’s) current procedure for these assessments needs revision.
• The NNSA has conducted no assessments of training in the last 3 years.

 

The PXSO currently uses Readiness Assessments, Facility Representative reviews, Quality Assurance Audits, individual program assessments and for cause reviews as spot checks of the quality and effectiveness of contractor training because PXSO does not have the staff to conduct the comprehensive assessments required by DOE O 5480.20A.  (Prior to the stand up of the NNSA on December 15, 2002, the Albuquerque Operations Office conducted these periodic reviews.)  The review has not been accomplished in the past 3 years because the need for a tri-ennial review was not captured in the PXSO assessment schedule or tickler file.  The following actions have been/will be taken to address your concerns:

 

• On April 21, 2003, PXSO requested the NNSA Service Center to assist in a comprehensive assessment of BWXT’s compliance with DOE O 5480.20A to be completed by July 31, 2003.  The Service Center has agreed to support this request.
• PXSO is negotiating with the NNSA Service Center to incorporate a triennial review of the contractor’s training program into its continuing Service Level Agreement for the current and future fiscal years.
• This assessment will be incorporated into the PXSO consolidated assessment plan.

 

If you have any questions, please contact me or have your staff contact Jeff Underwood at (301) 903-8303 or Steve Erhart at (806) 477-6150.

 

Sincerely,

 

Everet H. Beckner

Deputy Administrator

for Defense Programs

 

Enclosure

 

cc w/enclosure:

M. Whitaker, DR- 1

J. Hirahara, SC

J. McConnell, DNFSB

W. Andrews, DNFSB

J. Deplitch, DNFSB

A. Matteucci, DNFSB

D. Glenn, PXSO