[DNFSB
LETTERHEAD]
April 5, 2004
The Honorable Spencer Abraham
Secretary of Energy
1000 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20585-1000
Dear Secretary Abraham:
In testimony and presentations at recent
public meetings, the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (Board) has noted
references made by a number of Department of Energy (DOE) officials to DOE
initiatives aimed at the characterization and management of risk at defense nuclear
facilities. Further, in a recent policy
statement, the Office of Environmental Management directed its field elements
to develop risk-based end states in their cleanup activities, and separately,
the National Nuclear Security Agency (NNSA) designated its site managers as the
risk acceptance officials for NNSA sites. However, the framework for these risk
characterization and management activities has not been made clear.
In a related activity, the Board has
reviewed the DOE’s use of risk management tools at defense nuclear facilities. This review revealed that DOE and its
contractors have employed risk assessment in a variety of activities, including
the development of documented safety analyses and facility-level decision
making. The level of formality of these
assessments varies over a wide range. The Board’s review also revealed that DOE does
not have mechanisms (such as standards or guides) to control the use of risk
management tools nor does it have an internal organization assigned to maintain
cognizance and ensure the adequacy and consistency of risk assessments. Finally, the Board’s review showed that other
federal agencies involved in similar high-risk activities (e.g., National
Aeronautics and Space Administration, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission) have,
to varying degrees, formalized the use of quantitative risk assessment in their
operations and decision-making activities. These agencies have relevant standards and
defined organizational elements, procedures, and processes for the development
and use of risk management tools.
As a result of these observations, the Board
would like to understand DOE’s perspective and expectations regarding the use
of formal risk assessment in its oversight and operations at defense nuclear
facilities. Therefore, pursuant to 42 U.S.C.
§ 2286b(d), the Board requests
that the responsible officials brief the Board within 60 days of receipt of
this letter as to DOE’s ongoing and planned programs and policies for
assessing, prioritizing, and managing risk.
Sincerely,
John T. Conway
Chairman
c: The
Honorable Jessie Hill Roberson
The Honorable
Beverly Ann Cook
The Honorable
Everet H. Beckner
Mr. Mark B.
Whitaker, Jr.