[DOE LETTERHEAD]

August 25, 2008

The Honorable A. J. Eggenberger

Chairman

Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board

625 Indiana Avenue, N.W.

Suite 700

Washington, D.C. 20004-2901

Dear Mr. Chairman:

RESPONSE TO FIRST SERIES DETAILED REVIEW OF CORRECTIVE ACTIONS FOR THE SPILL OF WASTE FROM SINGLE-SHELL TANK

S-102 AT THE HANFORD SITE

Reference:        DNFSB letter from A. J. Eggenberger to J. A. Rispoli, DOE-HQ, "First Series Detailed Review of Corrective Actions for the Spill of Waste from Single-Shell Tank S- 102 at the Hanford Site," dated July 15, 2008.

This letter is in response to the above Reference, regarding the Tank S-102 spill at the Hanford Site. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) agrees with the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (DNFSB) staff issues regarding completion of the analysis and supporting documentation for the Emergency Planning Hazards Assessment and the need for more pre-planning to improve emergency preparedness. DOE also agrees with the observations included in the trip report that additional follow-up and attention is warranted in the area of the Emergency Preparedness Hazards Survey/Hazards Assessment process, and there may be opportunities for improvements beyond the Tank S- 102 Type-A Corrective Action Plan in the facility and site wide emergency preparedness program.

DOE-Headquarters (HQ) and the two involved DOE Field Offices, Office of River Protection (ORP) and Richland Operations Office (RL) are committed to implementing continuous improvements in the Emergency Management Program at the Hanford Site and to addressing and resolving each of the DNFSB's staff issues and observations in addition to completing the Corrective Action Plan for Tank 241-S-i 02 Type A Accident Investigation Report. We have developed a response to each of the issues and observations that includes proposed corrective actions, where appropriate and shared it with the DNFSB staff. The responsible individual(s) and completion due dates have been entered into our respective internal corrective action tracking systems and will be tracked until completion. Additionally, HQ, Environmental Management, Office of Safeguards and Security/Emergency Management (EM 3. 1) will perform oversight of the ORP/RL validation of the proposed corrective actions, along with the corrective actions currently underway. We will keep the DNFSB Site Representatives informed as these actions are completed.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact either one of us.

David A. Brockman, Manager

Richland Operations Office

Shirley J. Olinger, Manager

Office of River Protection

TOD: BAH

cc:

W. M. Linzau, DNFSB

R. G. Quirk, DNFSB

J. A. Rispoli, EM-1

J. M. Owendoff, EM-3

M. B. Whitaker, Jr., HS-1.1

S. A. Hahn, RL

R. G. Hastings, RL