[DOE LETTERHEAD]

April 9, 2001

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

Dear Mr. Chairman:

On March 23, 2001, the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (Board) provided their observations of the recent thermal stabilization activities in Building 707 that included the unusual pressure fluctuations in the glovebox. My staff in the Office for Site Closure, along with the Rocky Flats Field Office (RFFO) and the contractor (Kaiser-Hill), have been evaluating the situation. My staff and I will remain involved in the follow-up necessary to resolve the issues related to these activities, including full implementation of authorization basis controls addressing past Board concerns.

As the first step, we have asked the RFFO for the corrective actions (see enclosure). Once agreement is reached on the corrective actions, arrangements will be made by my Office for Site Closure to brief the Board on both the RFFO and contractor's corrective actions, including the path forward.

Doing work safely is a priority for Environmental Management. We remain committed to safely cleaning up and closing our sites.

If you have further questions, please contact me at (202) 586-7710 or contact Mr. James J. Fiore, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Site Closure, at (202) 586-6331.

Sincerely,

Carolyn L. Huntoon
Acting Assistant Secretary for
Environmental Management

Enclosure

cc:
M. Whitaker, S-3.1
J. Fiore, EM-30
B. Mazurowski, RFFO