[DOE LETTERHEAD]

 

National Nuclear Security Administration

 

July 21, 2005

 

The Honorable A. J. Eggenberger

Chairman

Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board

625 Indiana Avenue, N.W., Suite 700

Washington, D.C. 20004

 

Dear Mr. Chairman:

 

In your May 31, 2005, letter on the confinement ventilation systems at the Plutonium Facility (PF-4) at Technical Area 55 of Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), you requested a report that outlines National Nuclear Security Administration’s (NNSA) plan and schedule for implementation of an effective safety-class system that would protect the public from the unmitigated consequences of a potential event at this facility.

 

As directed by NNSA, LANL completed and submitted on July 14, 2005, the Backfit Cost-Benefit Analysis for upgrading the PF-4 ventilation system and its supporting systems to function as an active safety class.  However, a significant effort is still required to allow an adequate review of this backfit analysis and to consider the cost implications in the context of the spectrum of risk reduction alternatives.  Therefore, the Office of Defense Programs finds it necessary to request a 60-day extension to prepare an adequate formal position.

 

The request for extension has previously been discussed with your staff.  Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me or have a member of your staff contact Sujita Pierpoint at (301) 903-9601 or Gerald Schlapper at (505) 665-7111.

 

Sincerely,

 

Thomas P. D’Agostino

Acting Deputy Administrator

  for Defense Programs

 

cc:   M. Whitaker, DR-1

E. Wilmot, LASO