[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 237 (Thursday, December 10, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68261-68262]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-32902]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


DOE Response to Recommendation 98-2 of the Defense Nuclear 
Facilities Safety Board, Safety Management at the Pantex Plant

AGENCY: Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board published 
Recommendation 98-2, concerning safety management at the Pantex plant, 
on October 7, 1998 (63 FR 53884). Section 315(b) of the Atomic Energy 
Act of 1954, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 2286d(b) required the Department of 
Energy to transmit a response to the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety 
Board by November 20, 1998. The Secretary's response follows.

DATES: Comments, data, views, or arguments concerning the Secretary's 
response are due on or before January 11, 1999.

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. Gene Ives, Deputy Assistant 
Secretary for Military Application and Stockpile Management, Defense 
Programs, Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, 
Washington, DC, 20585.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on December 3, 1998.
Theodore Wyka,
Deputy to the Departmental Representative to the Defense Nuclear 
Facilities Safety Board.

The Secretary of Energy,

Washington, DC 20585

November 20, 1998.
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 acknowledges receipt of your 
Recommendation 98-2, issued on September 30, 1998, and published in 
the Federal Register on October 7, 1998, dealing with Safety 
Management at the Pantex Plant. The Department accepts 
Recommendation 98-2 and will develop an Implementation Plan to the 
following approach:
    (1) The activities undertaken in the Implementation Plan will be 
aimed at simplifying and standardizing activity level safety 
management processes for all work involving nuclear explosives at 
the Pantex Plant. Implementation Plan activities involving Nuclear 
Explosive Safety Studies will also be focused on simplification and 
standardization of practices and processes. Overall, the objective 
of the Implementation Plan will be to ensure practical and timely 
implementation of safety improvements and will better allow for 
tailoring of SS-21 principles.
    (2) The Department recognizes the need to modify the existing 
change control process in order to improve process efficiency and 
consistency. An efficient process to tailor the amount of rigor 
involved in implementing changes while maintaining an adequate 
safety margin will be pursued.
    (3) Roles, responsibilities and authorities will be clarified so 
that the Pantex contractor is accountable for the adequacy of 
nuclear explosive operations and safety documentation at the Pantex 
Plant. In doing so, the Pantex contractor will have the ability to 
call on the technical expertise of the National Laboratories.
    (4) The Department recognizes the need to clarify the 
independent role of the Nuclear Explosive Safety Studies Groups. The 
Nuclear Explosive Safety Studies should focus on a scope of work 
established by line management and approved by the

[[Page 68262]]

appropriate Department of Energy Authorization Official.
    (5) The Department will develop and implement options necessary 
to sustain a technically competent Nuclear Explosive Safety Study 
Group talent pool.
    (6) The Department recognizes the need to pursue the safety 
management enhancement sought in Recommendation 98-2 consistent with 
the development of the Pantex Integrated Safety Management System as 
part of the Implementation Plan for Recommendation 95-2.
    The Deputy Assistant Secretary for Military Application and 
Stockpile Management, Defense Programs, is the Responsible Manager 
for the preparation of the Implementation Plan. He will work with 
you to develop an acceptable plan, meeting our mutual expectations.

      Yours sincerely,
Bill Richardson.
[FR Doc. 98-32902 Filed 12-9-98; 8:45 am]
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