[DNFSB
LETTERHEAD]
October 15, 2007
The Honorable William C. Ostendorff
Principal Deputy Administrator
National Nuclear Security Administration
1000
Dear Mr. Ostendorff:
The Defense Nuclear
Facilities Safety Board (Board) is familiar with the current division of
management duties for the defense nuclear facilities at the Nevada Test Site
(NTS) through its continuing oversight duties, and understands that the
National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) is proceeding to allow the Management and Operation (M&O) contractor for the NTS to assume full responsibility and accountability for managing and operating all nuclear and radiological facilities at the test
site.
The Board
supports such a transition. From a
health and nuclear safety perspective there are distinct advantages to having
the M&O contractor for the NTS responsible for integrating health and
safety programs, including operation and management of all defense nuclear
facilities. These include among others:
The Board
will closely follow the implementation of actions required to satisfy NNSA’s objective. Tasking the M&O contractor with full responsibility and
accountability for managing all facilities at the NTS will address line of
responsibility issues that the Board has previously communicated to NNSA.
Sincerely,
A. J. Eggenberger
Chairman