[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 33 (Thursday, February 17, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-3643]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: February 17, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
 

DOE Response to Recommendation 93-6 of the Defense Nuclear 
Facilities Safety Board; Maintaining Access to Nuclear Weapons 
Expertise

AGENCY: Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice and request for public comment.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 315(b) of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, 
as amended, 42 U.S.C. 2286d(b), the Department of Energy (DOE) hereby 
publishes notice of a response of the Secretary of Energy (Secretary) 
to Recommendation 93-6 of the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board, 
published in the Federal Register on December 23, 1993, (58 FR 68123) 
concerning access to nuclear weapons expertise.

DATES: Comments, data, views, or arguments concerning the Secretary's 
response are due on or before March 21, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Send comments, data, views, or arguments concerning the 
Secretary's response to: Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board, 625 
Indiana Avenue NW., suite 700, Washington, DC 20004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Victor H. Reis, Assistant Secretary for Defense Programs, Department of 
Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on February 2, 1994.
Mark B. Whitaker,
Acting Departmental Representative to the Defense Nuclear Facilities 
Safety Board.
The Honorable John T. Conway,
Chairman, Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board, 625 Indiana 
Avenue NW., Suite 700, Washington, DC 20004
    Dear Mr. Conway: The Department of Energy fully accepts Defense 
Nuclear Facilities Safety Board Recommendation 93-6, Maintaining 
Access to Nuclear Weapons Expertise.
    The Department shares your concern of ensuring capability to 
safely conduct nuclear weapons testing operations at the Nevada Test 
Site and to safely dismantle nuclear weapons at the Pantex Site. To 
meet this challenge, the Department must identify and maintain 
access to the critical skills of nuclear weapons scientists, 
engineers, and technicians. Where access to skills in the future is 
uncertain, the Department must find ways to capture knowledge, so 
safe dismantlement procedures can be developed and utilized and safe 
testing operations can be conducted.
    The forthcoming Implementation Plan for Recommendation 93-6 will 
capitalize on activities that have already been initiated and 
provide a structured approach for ensuring the continued safe 
conduct of operations at Pantex and the Nevada Test Site.

      Sincerely,
Hazel R. O'Leary.
[FR Doc. 94-3643 Filed 2-16-94; 8:45 am]
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