[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 237 (Thursday, December 10, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76676-76677]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-31093]


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DEFENSE NUCLEAR FACILITIES SAFETY BOARD

[Recommendation 2015-1]


Emergency Preparedness and Response at the Pantex Plant

AGENCY: Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board.

ACTION: Notice, recommendation; correction.

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SUMMARY: The Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (Board) published 
a notice of a recommendation to the Secretary of Energy in the Federal 
Register of December 3, 2015, (80 FR 75665), concerning emergency 
preparedness at the Pantex Plant. The Board corrects that notice by 
providing the additional information as set forth below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Welch, General Manager, Defense 
Nuclear Facilities Safety Board, 625 Indiana Avenue NW., Suite 700, 
Washington, DC 20004-2901, or telephone number (202) 694-7000.

Correction

    In the Federal Register of December 3, 2015, in FR Doc. 2015-30562, 
on page 75673, in the first column, after line 37, add the following 
information:

CORRESPONDENCE FROM THE SECRETARY

Department of Energy
Under Secretary for Nuclear Security
Administrator, National Nuclear Security Administration
Washington, DC 20585

November 4, 2015

The Honorable Joyce L. Connery
Chairman
Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board
65 Indiana Avenue NW., Suite 700
Washington, DC 20004

Dear Madam Chairman:

    On behalf of the Secretary, thank you for the opportunity to review 
the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (DNFSB) Draft 
Recommendation 2015-1, Emergency Preparedness and Response at the 
Pantex Plant. The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) has 
established specific performance goals for the Pantex Emergency 
Management Program, to include improvements in the three areas 
highlighted by the Draft Recommendation 2015-1. These goals are 
consistent with the mutually agreed-upon benefits of implementing the 
DNFSB Recommendation 2014-1.
    The draft Recommendation's risk assessment states: ``it is not 
possible to do a quantitative assessment of the risk of these [the 
Pantex Emergency Management Program] elements to provide adequate 
protection of the workers and the public.'' As a point of 
clarification, the Department of Energy (DOE) demonstrates adequate 
protection of workers, the public and the environment as an integral 
part of operating a nuclear facility like that situated at the Pantex 
Plant. To this end, the Department has put in place a system of 
requirements, standards, policies and guidance that, when effectively 
implemented, not only provide reasonable assurance of adequate 
protection, but takes a very conservative approach to ensure such 
protection. Functions such as emergency management provide that 
additional conservatism and margin of protection. We are confident 
that, even with deficiencies identified by the DNFSB, the Pantex 
Emergency Management Program can perform its role to ensure this 
protection. Accordingly, DOE recommends removing the phrase: ``in order 
to provide an adequate protection to the public and the workers'' in 
justifying the need for the draft recommendation.
    To increase protection assurances and drive improvement in an 
effective and efficient manner, I suggest that the best approach to 
address the concerns identified in your Draft Recommendation is to 
incorporate ongoing NNSA performance improvement initiatives and 
enhancements into the existing implementation plans for Recommendation 
2014-1. This approach would enable the Department to take a holistic, 
integrated approach to making the needed improvements at Pantex.
    We appreciate the DNFSB's perspective and look forward to continued 
positive interactions with you and your staff to include Pantex-
specific actions and milestones in the existing Implementation Plan for 
Recommendation 2014-1.
    If you have any questions, please contact me or Mr. Geoffrey 
Beausoleil, Manager, NNSA Production Office, at 865-576-0752.

Sincerely,
Frank G. Klotz

[[Page 76677]]



       Disposition of DOE Comments on Draft Recommendation 2015-1
------------------------------------------------------------------------
           DOE comment              Board response      Revised wording
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The draft Recommendation's risk   Upon review of      Original wording
 assessment states: ``it is not    Draft               of last sentence
 possible to do a quantitative     Recommendation      in first
 assessment of the risk of these   2015-1, in the      paragraph of the
 [the Pantex Emergency             noted phrase the    text of the
 Management Program] elements to   word ``provide''    Recommendation:
 provide adequate protection of    was used,          ``We believe that
 the workers and the public.''     whereas, in         DOE and National
 As a point of clarification,      similar             Nuclear Security
 the Department of Energy (DOE)    references to       Administration
 demonstrates adequate             adequate            (NNSA) must
 protection of workers, the        protection in       address these
 public and the environment as     other parts of      concerns in order
 an integral part of operating a   Draft               to provide an
 nuclear facility like that        Recommendation      adequate
 situated at the Pantex Plant.     2015-1, the word    protection to the
 To this end, the Department has   ``ensure'' was      public and the
 put in place a system of          used. The Board     workers at the
 requirements, standards,          voted to amend      Pantex Plant.''
 policies and guidance that,       the language to    Revised wording:
 when effectively implemented,     reflect that the   ``We believe that
 not only provide reasonable       Recommendation is   DOE and the
 assurance of adequate             intended to         National Nuclear
 protection, but takes a very      ensure adequate     Security
 conservative approach to ensure   protection.         Administration
 such protection. Functions such                       (NNSA) must
 as emergency management provide                       address these
 that additional conservatism                          concerns in order
 and margin of protection. We                          to ensure the
 are confident that, even with                         adequate
 deficiencies identified by the                        protection of the
 DNFSB, the Pantex Emergency                           public and the
 Management Program can perform                        workers at the
 its role to ensure this                               Pantex Plant.''
 protection. Accordingly, DOE
 recommends removing the phrase:
 ``in order to provide an
 adequate protection to the
 public and the workers'' in
 justifying the need for the
 draft recommendation.
To increase protection            As noted in the     No change.
 assurances and drive              ``Findings,
 improvement in an effective and   Supporting Data,
 efficient manner, I suggest       and Analysis''
 that the best approach to         document of Draft
 address the concerns identified   Recommendation
 in your Draft Recommendation is   2015-1, the
 to incorporate ongoing NNSA       problems
 performance improvement           identified in
 initiatives and enhancements      Draft
 into the existing                 Recommendation
 implementation plans for          2015-1 will not
 Recommendation 2014-1. This       be adequately
 approach would enable the         addressed by the
 Department to take a holistic,    Board's
 integrated approach to making     Recommendation
 the needed improvements at        2014-1, Emergency
 Pantex.                           Preparedness and
                                   Response.
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    Dated: December 4, 2015.
Joyce L. Connery,
Chairman.
[FR Doc. 2015-31093 Filed 12-9-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3670-01-P