[DOE LETTERHEAD]
National Nuclear
Security Administration
August 4,
2005
The
Honorable A. J. Eggenberger
Chairman
Defense
Nuclear Facilities Safety Board
625
Indiana Avenue, NW.
Suite
700
Washington,
D.C. 20004
Dear
Mr. Chairman:
Enclosed is the “Quarterly Report for the Implementation Plan Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (DNFSB) Recommendation 98-2, Safety Management at the Pantex Plant”, for the period April 1 through June 30, 2005.
During the third quarter of Fiscal Year 2005, the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) made progress toward successful execution of the Seamless Safety for the Twenty-First Century (SS-21) process. This report documents the status as of June 30, 2005. As you are also aware, per your letter dated December 14, 2004, we provide monthly status briefings. At the July l3-14, 2005, DNFSB visit to the Pantex Plant, BWXT Pantex provided a comprehensive status of the implementation and validation of technical safety requirement controls. The NNSA received DNFSB staff comments to the technical business practice (TBP) that incorporates value stream analysis and documents the process between the design agencies and Pantex for hazard analysis and weapon response. The draft TBP is in the final comment phase and is planned for official release prior to the end of Fiscal Year 2005. As of June 30, 2005, the B83 Nuclear Explosive Safety Study (NESS) Report was in final concurrence and signature. Resolution of NESS pre-starts will result in a modification to the Hazard Analysis Report, which in turn, results in a delay to the start of the readiness assessment reviews. Projected B83 reauthorization is January 2006.
Twenty-three out of twenty-seven commitments in the DNFSB Recommendation 98-2 have been delivered and four remain outstanding. If you have questions, please call me or have your staff contact Ms. Wendy Baca at 505-845-6340.
Sincerely,
Javier
Ascanio
Acting
Assistant Deputy Administrator
for Military
Application and
Stockpile Operations
Defense
Programs
cc:
K.
Fortenberry, DNFSB
A.
Matteucci, DNFSB
M. Whitaker, DR-1
S.
Erhart, PXSO