[DOE LETTERHEAD]

May 31, 1996

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

Dear Mr. Chairman:

Enclosed is the "Policy for Demonstrating Compliance with DOE Order 5820.2A for Onsite Management and Disposal of Environmental Restoration Low-Level Wastes under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act.'' This policy is a deliverable pursuant to the commitment in Task Initiative VI.B.3 identified in the Department of Energy's Implementation Plan, Revision I, for the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board Recommendation 94-2.

This policy was developed to avoid duplication of effort where internal requirements and procedures of DOE Order 5820.2A for management and disposal of low-level waste overlap with the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act. The Department determined that the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act process can be used to demonstrate compliance with the requirements of DOE Order 5820.2A with regard to the safe management and disposal onsite of low-level waste from environmental restoration activities.

This policy is also being transmitted to the Operations Offices along with guidance for implementation by field installations.

The Department has completed the actions identified under this commitment and proposes closure of the commitment.

Sincerely,

Richard J. Guimond
Assistant Surgeon General, USPHS
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Environmental Restoration

Enclosure