[DOE LETTERHEAD]

May 19, 1999

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

Dear Mr. Chairman:

In the Revised Implementation Plan (IP) for Board Recommendation 93-3, Improving DOE Technical Capability in Defense Nuclear Facilities Programs, the Department commits to conducting a work force analysis of each of its defense nuclear facilities and developing a staffing plan which identifies critical technical capabilities and positions which must be maintained to assure safe operations at these facilities.

As a deliverable pursuant to Commitment 5.3.1 of the IP, senior line managers at each of the defense facilities sites provided a staffing plan to the Federal Technical Capability Panel, which included a description of current critical technical positions, current shortages and strategies for retention and hiring. Each office also took into consideration technical staffing needs associated with anticipated mission changes, organizational changes, and retirements. The Panel reviewed the reports and concluded that the assessments provided a good baseline for improvements to those programs. A summary report based on the Panel's review was prepared and a copy of that summary is enclosed. Board staff members have reviewed the individual reports on which the summary report is based.

The Department has completed the actions identified under Commitment 5.3.1 and proposes closure of this commitment.

If you have any questions, please call me at (202)426-1506.

Sincerely,

David R. Roth
Executive Secretary
Federal Technical Capability Panel

Enclosure

cc:
Chairman, Federal Technical Capability Panel
Panel Members
Mark B. Whitaker, Jr., S-3.1

Note: This enclosure is available in [PDF].