[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 60 (Thursday, March 27, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 16288]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-6240]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Letter From Secretary of Energy Accepting Defense Nuclear 
Facilities Safety Board (Board) Recommendation 2008-1

AGENCY: Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (DOE) is making available the 
Secretary's letter to the Board accepting the Board's recommendation 
2008-1 regarding fire protection at defense nuclear facilities.

ADDRESSES: U.S. Department of Energy, HS-1.1, 1000 Independence Ave., 
SW., Washington, DC 20585.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: DOE is making this letter available for 
public information and solicits comments from the public. Comments may 
be sent to the address above. The text of the document is below. It may 
also be viewed at: http://www.hss.energy.gov/deprep/default.asp.

    Issued in Washington, DC on March 21, 2008.
Robert J. McMorland,
Office of the Departmental Representative to the Defense Nuclear 
Facilities Safety Board.
March 19, 2008
The Honorable A. J. Eggenberger
Chairman
Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board
625 Indiana Avenue, NW., Suite 700
Washington, DC 20004-2901

    Dear Mr. Chairman:
    The Department of Energy (DOE) acknowledges receipt of the 
Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (Board) Recommendation 2008-
1, Safety Classification of Fire Protection Systems, issued on 
January 29, 2008.
    As identified in your letter, the Department has general design 
requirements for safety systems. We agree with the Board that safety 
systems for each project can be evaluated individually, but that it 
would be beneficial to establish guidance on translating 
requirements into specific fire protection design and operating 
features for more frequently used fire protection systems. As 
acknowledged, it may not always be necessary to meet criteria for 
redundancy, nuclear-grade quality assurance, or seismic 
qualification. As suggested in Recommendation 2008-1, our 
implementation will leave room for engineering judgment and 
innovative approaches in such cases. As discussed in this letter, we 
accept the Board's recommendation and will respond by developing an 
Implementation Plan that:
     Identifies additional design and operational criteria 
for newly classified (but not existing) safety-class and safety-
significant fire protection systems where warranted;
     Revises DOE Standard-1066-99, Fire Protection Design 
Criteria, to provide additional guidance for design and operation of 
selected fire protection systems designated as safety-class or 
safety-significant by the relevant Documented Safety Analysis. This 
guidance will include the appropriate level of detail that considers 
the uniqueness of fire scenarios;
     Identifies Nuclear Regulatory Commission and commercial 
design codes and standards that could be applied to safety-class and 
safety significant fire protection systems; and
     As necessary, modifies DOE Guide (G) 420.1-1, 
Nonreactor Nuclear Safety Design Criteria and Explosive Safety 
Criteria Guide for use with DOE 0 420. 1, Facility Safety, and DOE G 
420.1-3, Implementation Guide for DOE Fire Protection and Emergency 
Services Programs for Use with DOE O 420. I B, Facility Safety, to 
ensure compatibility with the new guidance for fire protection 
systems.
    We will interact with the Board and Board staff as we develop 
our Implementation Plan. I have assigned Mr. Andrew C. Lawrence, 
Director, Office of Nuclear Safety and Environment, Office of 
Health, Safety and Security, to be the Department's responsible 
manager for developing the Implementation Plan. He can be reached at 
(202) 586-5680.

 Sincerely,
Samuel W. Bodman

[FR Doc. E8-6240 Filed 3-26-08; 8:45 am]
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