[DNFSB LETTERHEAD]

 

September 13, 2005

 

The Honorable Samuel W. Bodman

Secretary of Energy

1000 Independence Avenue, SW

Washington, DC 20585-1000

 

Dear Secretary Bodman:

 

The Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (Board) received your letter dated August 17, 2005, enclosing the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Implementation Plan for the Board’s Recommendation 2005-1, Nuclear Material Packaging.  The Board’s Recommendation stressed the need for the development of technically justified criteria for packaging of nuclear materials on a DOE-wide level.  The Board has reviewed the Implementation Plan and finds that it satisfies the Board’s Policy Statement 1 and is responsive to the issues documented in the Recommendation.  The Board therefore accepts the proposed Implementation Plan.  Acceptance is predicated on the assumption that adequate funding will be provided to execute the commitments therein.

 

The Board found DOE’s response to this Recommendation to be noteworthy, particularly with regard to the early establishment of a dedicated team and the timely development of an aggressive schedule of commitments to implement the Recommendation.  The Board is also encouraged by the commitment to use a technical review board to review and comment on the principal activities related to the resolution of safety issues.  The Board believes that use of technical review boards may prove beneficial in helping to resolve other safety issues within the DOE complex.

 

The Board’s staff will continue to stay in close contact with the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Environment, Safety and Health to follow progress toward implementing Recommendation 2005-1.

 

Sincerely,

 

A. J. Eggenberger

Chairman

 

c:   Mr. Mark B. Whitaker, Jr.

Mr. John S. Shaw