[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 171 (Tuesday, September 6, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-21875]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: September 6, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
 

DOE Response to Recommendation 94-1, Improved Schedule for 
Remediation in the Defense Nuclear Complex of the Defense Nuclear 
Facilities Safety Board

AGENCY: Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Section 315(b) of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, 
42 U.S.C. 2286d(b) requires the Department of Energy to publish its 
response to Defense Nuclear Facility Safety Board recommendations for 
notice and public comment. The Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board 
published Recommendation 94-1, concerning an improved schedule for 
remediation in the defense nuclear facilities complex, in the Federal 
Register on June 3, 1994 (59 FR 28848).

DATES: Comments, data, views, or arguments concerning the Secretary's 
response are due on or before October 6, 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:
Mr. Thomas P. Grumbly, Assistant Secretary for Environmental 
Management, Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., 
Washington, DC 20585.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on August 24, 1994.
James M. Ahlgrimm,
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. Chairman: This letter responds to your Recommendation 
91-1, Improved Schedule for Remediation in the Defense Nuclear 
Complex, of May 26, 1994. The Department shares the concerns 
outlined in your letter, and we agree that there is a need to take 
timely action to place the substances formerly used in the 
manufacture of nuclear weapons into a state suitable for safe 
interim storage. There are significant activities underway, such as 
the Plutonium Vulnerability Study and the associated Management Plan 
to address many of the hazards cited in your Recommendation.
    Your Recommendation calls for an integrated program plan to be 
formulated on a high priority basis to convert, within two to three 
years, the specific materials cited in the Recommendation to forms 
or conditions suitable for safe interim storage. The Department 
commits to develop a plan that will include the following 
initiatives:

a systems engineering approach to maximize the integration of 
facilities and capabilities while minimizing worker exposures and 
additional waste;
research programs required to fill any gaps in the technological 
information base;
identification of those facilities that may be needed for future 
handling and treatment of these materials;
ensuring operational readiness in accordance with DOE Order 5480.31.

    This integrated program plan will develop detailed schedules for 
specific activities cited in the Recommendation and will include 
critical path activities; decision points, and resource 
considerations necessary for successful program initiation and 
completions. The plan will be utilized as a tool to assist in 
determining the appropriate course of action to expeditiously 
convert the material discussed in specific recommendations 3 through 
7 to a form or condition more suitable for interim storage.
    The Department accepts Recommendation 94-1 conditioned upon the 
understanding that complete conversion of all materials cited in 
your Recommendation may not be accomplished within the time periods 
described in the Recommendation. We look forward to working closely 
with you and your staff to develop a responsive Implementation Plan 
and activity schedules that meet our common goals. The 
Implementation Plan will be forwarded to you in accordance with 42 
U.S.C. 2286d.
    If you have further questions, please contact me, or have a 
member of your staff contact Mr. Thomas Grumbly, Assistant Secretary 
for Environmental Management, at (202) 586-7710.
      Sincerely,
Hazel R. O'Leary.

[FR Doc. 94-21875 Filed 9-2-94; 8:45 am]
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