[Federal Register: October 29, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 209)]
[Notices]               
[Page 58383-58384]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr29oc99-47]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

 
DOE Response to Recommendation 99-1 of the Defense Nuclear 
Facilities Safety Board, Safe Storage of Fissionable Material called 
``Pits''.

AGENCY: Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board published 
Recommendation 99-1, concerning the safe storage of fissionable 
material called ``pits,'' on August 27, 1999 (64 FR 46894). Under 
section 315(e) of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 
2286d(e), the Department of Energy was required to transmit a response 
to the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board by October 12, 1999. The 
Secretary's response follows.

DATES: Comments, data, views, or arguments concerning the Secretary's 
response are due on or before November 29, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Send comments, data, views, or arguments concerning the 
Secretary's response to: Department of Energy, 1000 Independence 
Avenue, SW, Washington, DC, 20585.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. David E. Beck, Deputy Assistant 
Secretary for Military Application and Stockpile Operations, Defense 
Programs, Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, 
Washington DC, 20585.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on October 25, 1999.
Mark B. Whitaker, Jr.,
Departmental Representative to the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety 
Board.

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

    Dear Mr. Chairman: The Department of Energy acknowledges receipt 
of Recommendation 99-1, issued on August 11, 1999, and published in 
the Federal Register on August 27, 1999, and accepts the Board's 
recommendations.
    The Department has initiated activities to develop and implement 
improved pit storage programs and to develop a shipping container 
for transporting pits to the plutonium disposition facility. We also 
implemented a pit repackaging program to ensure that pits are stored 
in accordance with applicable specifications.

[[Page 58384]]

    In support of nuclear material disposition activities, 
departmental program offices have been working together to ensure 
that timely actions are completed to accomplish defined programmatic 
end states. Actions include a systems analysis study to generate 
programmatic requirements for a pit shipping container, a review of 
pit surveillance data to characterize pit integrity in current 
environments, and increasing the pit repackaging rate to 200 pits 
per month. The Department will continue these efforts to ensure the 
adequacy of complex-wide pit management.
    The Department accepts the recommendations contained in 
Recommendation 99-1 and will develop an implementation plan to 
accomplish the following:
    1. Expeditiously resolve the compatibility issues that have the 
potential to impact the long-term safe storage of pits. Through a 
container surveillance program, the Department will monitor the AL-
R8 Sealed Insert container to ensure its continued quality and 
reliability.
    2. Ensure that repackaging takes place at an accelerated rate so 
that pits are expeditiously placed into containers suited to safe 
storage. The actions undertaken in the implementation plan will 
focus on ensuring a safe and timely repackaging program. A process 
to develop a resource-loaded repackaging schedule will be 
established with an initial baseline repackaging rate of 200 per 
month.
    3. Develop a system of statistical sampling for the AL-R8 Sealed 
Insert containers to assess container integrity and to provide 
horizons for future repackaging and repackaging rate requirements.
    4. Assign a single individual the responsibility and 
accountability, along with the necessary resources and authority for 
accomplishment of the above.
    Mr. David E. Beck, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Military 
Application and Stockpile Operations, Defense Programs, (202) 586-
4879, is appointed the manager responsible for preparation of the 
implementation plan in accordance with sub-recommendation 4 of the 
Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board letter. He will work with 
you to develop a plan that meets our mutual expectations.

        Yours sincerely,

Bill Richardson

[FR Doc. 99-28318 Filed 10-28-99; 8:45 am]
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