[DSE LETTERHEAD]

September 18, 2000

During the past year the Department has taken a number of steps to strengthen nuclear criticality safety as part of our Integrated Safety Management System. My November 3, 1999 memorandum on criticality safety described specific actions to improve the Department's ongoing criticality safety practices. Many of the near term actions outlined in that memo have been completed. This memorandum details the next series of actions to further enhance the effectiveness of the Department's nuclear criticality safety programs.

The Department's Office of Oversight recently completed a review of key nuclear facilities involved in fissile material operations. The results of this review are summarized in the March 2000 report, "Nuclear Criticality Safety at Key Department of Energy Facilities." While the report concludes that there are no imminent criticality safety hazards at the facilities reviewed, it highlights additional steps the Department can take to improve nuclear safety programs and the professional expertise of those responsible for implementing nuclear safety. In response to the report, on May 11, 2000, Secretary Richardson outlined specific actions to be taken. Attachment 1 lists these actions and the remaining long term actions from my November 3, 1999 memorandum on criticality safety.

Lead Program Secretarial Officers should direct appropriate Field Office Managers to implement actions listed in Attachment 1. Field Office Managers should designate a point of contact to work with the Headquarters Points of Contact listed in Attachment 2. These Headquarters and Field Office individuals will be responsible for tracking associated actions, ensuring Secretarial Officers are cognizant of status, and coordinating activities across sites. The Secretarial Officers will report quarterly to me on progress towards completing these actions. The Department's Nuclear Criticality Safety Program Management Team is available to advise responsible managers and to assist in the completion of actions where appropriate. Members of this team are listed in Attachment 2.

The Deputy Administrator for Naval Reactors shall ensure that actions taken to improve nuclear criticality safety in the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program continue separate from this memorandum.

Attachments

Note: Attachment is available in [PDF].