September 17, 1999

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

Dear Mr. Chairman:

I am pleased to inform you that the Hanford Recommendation 94-1 Implementation Plan commitment 104, AInitiate operation of the prototype vertical denigration calciner,@ was completed on September 8,1999.

Unfortunately, technical safety issues and mechanical difficulties, described to you in earlier correspondence, delayed this start up. However, we have now begun making progress on solution stabilization at the Plutonium Finishing Plant.

I continue to closely track progress on all 94-1 commitments, and will keep you and your staff appraised of our progress. If you have any questions, please call me on 202-586-5151.

Sincerely,

cc:
M. Whitaker, S-3.1