The Secretary of Energy

October 2, 1998

MEMORANDUM FOR DISTRIBUTION LIST

In reviewing the activities of the Department over the recent years, I note that significant progress has been made under our Implementation Plan to mitigate the urgent risk situations that were identified in past Departmental vulnerability studies and in the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (Board) Recommendation 94-1, Improved Schedule for Remediation in the Defense Nuclear Facilities Complex. I also recognize that with approval of the Accelerating Cleanup: Paths to Closure, the Nuclear Weapons Stockpile Stewardship Program and the Fissile Materials Disposition Program, our strategy and priorities have changed to the extent that nuclear materials stabilization activities committed to under the original Implementation Plan could be impacted. Since nuclear materials stabilization and the associated risk reduction are important precursors to our Environmental Management, Weapons Stewardship and Materials Disposition activities, I want to emphasize that completing the activities identified in our Implementation Plan for Recommendation 94-1 continues to be one of the highest priorities of this Department.

I expect all Department and contractor personnel responsible for the planning and execution of the work in the 94-1 Implementation Plan to fully support the effort outlined by the Acting Assistant Secretary for Environmental Management in his September 16, 1998, memorandum to complete a comprehensive Implementation Plan revision for my review and approval by the end of December 1998. Please review your proposed revisions to the Recommendation 94-1 stabilization commitments to ensure they meet the original commitments to the maximum extent possible. If it is determined that stabilization delays are unavoidable, recover schedules should be realistic and aggressive. Any significant delays should be accompanied by an evaluation of the additional risk associated with the delays and identify what compensatory measures will be taken to minimize that risk. Once revised, I expect the 94-1 Responsible Manager to track progress with an appropriate level of configuration management to ensure that our Implementation Plan commitments are met on schedule.

Distribution List:
Acting Assistant Secretary for
Environmental Management
Assistant Secretary for Defense Programs
Associate Deputy Secretary for Field Management
Manager, Savannah River Operations Office
Manager, Oak Ridge Operations Office
Manager, Albuquerque Operations Office
Manager, Idaho Operations Office
Manager, Rocky Flats Field Office
Manager, Richland Operations Office
Manager, Oakland Operations Office

Note: The memorandum referenced in this document dated September 16, 1998, is available in [PDF].