[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 20 (Thursday, January 30, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 4769]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-2165]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


DOE Response to Recommendation 2002-2 of the Defense Nuclear 
Facilities Safety Board, Weapons Laboratory Support of the Defense 
Nuclear Complex

AGENCY: Department of Energy, DOE.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board Recommendation 
2002-2, concerning weapons Laboratory support of the DOE nuclear 
complex at Department of Energy Defense Nuclear Facilities was 
published in the Federal Register on October 10, 2002 (67 FR 63081). On 
November 21, 2002 the Secretary requested a 45-Day Extension to 
respond. In accordance with section 315(b) of the Atomic Energy Act of 
1954, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 2286d(b), the Secretary transmitted the 
following response to the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board on 
January 8, 2003.

DATES: Comments, data, views, or arguments concerning the Secretary's 
response are due on or before February 7, 2003.

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: Ms. Karen L. Boardman, Director, 
Office of Complex Readiness, Albuquerque Operations Office, 
Pennsylvania & H Street, Kirtland Air Force Base, Albuquerque, NM 
87116.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on January 8, 2003.
Mark B. Whitaker, Jr.,
Departmental Representative to the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety 
Board.
January 8, 2003.

The Honorable John T. Conway,
Chairman, Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board, 625 Indiana 
Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20004.

    Dear Mr. Chairman: On October 3, 2002, the Defense Nuclear 
Facilities Safety Board (Board) issued recommendation 2002-2, 
Weapons Laboratory Support of the Defense Nuclear Complex. The 
Department agrees that providing the defense nuclear complex with 
appropriate support is an essential priority. We also recognize that 
``one-size-fits-all'' organizational structures and systems are not 
appropriate for our weapons laboratories.
    The Department accepts recommendation 2002-2 and will develop an 
implementation plan to accomplish the following:
    [sbull] We will re-emphasize the policy that the nuclear weapons 
program is the top priority among all activities at the weapons 
laboratories.
    [sbull] Each weapons laboratory will review its existing 
processes for assigning individuals as the senior point of contact 
for each weapons system and ensure that selection criteria, training 
and mentoring, and succession planning are in place. Personnel 
management is an internal process of the weapons laboratories and 
should not be prescribed by the Department. However, the Department 
will ensure that the end result is that senior technically competent 
individuals are assigned as the point of contact for each weapons 
system. A list of senior individuals assigned as the point of 
contact of each weapon system will be provided.
    [sbull] Each weapons laboratory will review its existing 
management system and demonstrate that through the appropriate 
alignment of a combination of internal organizational structure, 
programs, and procedures that the roles and responsibilities of each 
weapons point of contact are clearly defined. The point of contact 
for each weapon will be empowered to direct appropriate resources to 
ensure the safety of operations in the nuclear weapons complex 
within his/her assigned weapon system or have direct access to the 
management authority to acquire the necessary support.
    [sbull] The Department will establish and staff a Federal 
function at each site office managing a weapons laboratory contract 
to ensure that the laboratory support requirements related to safety 
of operations of the defense nuclear weapons complex are being 
tracked and met. For this function, the National Nuclear Security 
Administration reengineering will clarify the roles and 
responsibilities and the contractual lines of authority for 
providing direction and resolving competing requirements for 
resources.
    I have designated Ms. Karen Boardman as the responsible manager 
for developing the Department's implementation plan for this 
recommendation. Ms. Boardman may be reached at (505) 845-6039.
     Sincerely,

Signed by Secretary Spencer Abraham.

[FR Doc. 03-2165 Filed 1-29-03; 8:45 am]
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