[SOE LETTERHEAD]
August 8, 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 Final Report to the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (Board) on
Recommendation 99-1, which provides a summary of actions taken by the
Department to resolve the issues contained in the Board’s August 1999 Recommendation
99-1, Identification of Issues Needing Resolution to Ensure the Long-Term
Safety of Pits at Pantex.
The Department has implemented corrective actions to address the issues identified in Recommendation 99-1 and as of June 30, 2005, has completed repackaging more than 97 percent of the pits identified in the Secretary’s February 2000 implementation plan. Repackaging of remaining pits is scheduled to be complete by September 30, 2005.
Major corrective actions implemented as a result of Recommendation 99-1 include:
These actions have resulted in significant improvement to the Department’s ability to ensure safe handling and storage of special nuclear material at Pantex. The Department welcomes the Board’s ongoing oversight and requests the Board to consider closing Recommendation 99-1.
If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Thomas P. D’Agostino, Acting Deputy Administrator for Defense Programs, at (202) 586-2179.
Sincerely,
Samuel
W. Bodman
cc w/enclosure:
M.
Whitaker, DR-1