[DOE LETTERHEAD]

 

National Nuclear Security Administration

 

March 4, 2005

 

The Honorable John T. Conway

Chairman

Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board

625 Indiana Avenue, NW

Suite 700

Washington, D.C. 20004-2901

 

Dear Mr. Chairman,

 

On October 14, 2004, the Acting Assistant Deputy Administrator for Military Application and Stockpile Operations provided a plan for issuance of certain nuclear explosive surety directives. �This memorandum provides updated information and a revised schedule.

 

The DOE-STD-3015, Nuclear Explosive Safety Evaluation Process, was released on November 12, 2004 and Development and Production Manual, Chapter 11.7, Nuclear Explosive Operation Change Control Process, was released on December 15, 2004.

 

The DOE-STD-3016, Hazard Analysis Reports for Nuclear Explosive Operations, has slipped from March 31, 2005 to August 5, 2005. �The primary reason for this is the reluctance of the field to become involved in this revision based on their belief that DOE-STD-3009 provides sufficient guidance for the preparation of Hazard Analysis Reports.

My Nuclear Explosive Safety Office is engaged and working this issue.

 

Both DOE O 452.lC, Nuclear Explosive and Weapon Surety Program and DOE O 452.2C, Safety of Nuclear Explosive Operations are late with regards to the October 14, 2004 memorandum.

 

The DOE O 452.1C was submitted to Department of Energy, Office of Management, Budget, and Evaluation (ME-43) for review and comment (REVCOM) in mid-December 2004. �A technical edit review was completed in late January 2005. �All edit commentaries have been reconciled and the document has been resubmitted to ME-43 for REVCOM.

 

In regards to the DOE O 452.2C, National Nuclear Security Administration, the Office of Nuclear Weapon Surety and Quality (NA-121) intends to meet with the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (DNFSB) staff in mid March to obtain their comments prior to initiating the REVCOM process.

 

Once DNFSB commentary has been addressed, the document will be submitted to ME-43 for REVCOM. �The current plan is to submit this document in early April 2005.

 

Sincerely,

 

M. Schoenbauer

Assistant Deputy Administrator and

� for Military Application

� Stockpile Operations

Defense Programs

 

cc:

E Beckner, NA-10

M Whitaker, DR-1