DOE Response to Recommendation 98-1 of the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board, Integrated Safety Management and the Department of Energy (DOE) Facilities.

[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 237 (Thursday, December 10, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 68262]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-32903]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


DOE Response to Recommendation 98-1 of the Defense Nuclear 
Facilities Safety Board, Integrated Safety Management and the 
Department of Energy (DOE) Facilities.

AGENCY: Department of Energy

ACTION: Notice

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SUMMARY: The Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board published 
Recommendation 98-1, concerning integrated safety management and the 
Department of Energy (DOE) facilities, on October 6, 1998 (63 FR 
53646). 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, N.W., Suite 700, Washington, D.C., 20004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Ellen Livingston-Behan, Senior 
Program Advisor to the Secretary of Energy, Department of Energy, 1000 
Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C., 20585.

    Issued in Washington, DC on December 2, 1998.
Theodore Wyka,
Departmental Representative to the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety 
Board.
November 20, 1998.
The Honorable John T. Conway, Chairman,
Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board 625 Indiana Avenue, NW., 
Suite 700,
Washington, D.C. 20004

    Dear Mr. Chairman: Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board 
(Board) Recommendation 98-1, issued on September 28, 1998, 
recommends improvements to the Department's program for resolving 
the findings of its independent internal safety oversight 
organization. I agree that such improvements will enhance our 
ability to ensure safety. Thus, the Department accepts Board 
recommendation 98-1.
    The Department is committed to having an effective internal, 
independent oversight function as part of an overall safety 
assurance approach that also includes line management self-
assessments. The Department's policy on line environment, safety and 
health oversight clearly establishes our expectations that robust, 
rigorous and credible contractor self-assessments together with 
Department line management oversight provide the primary basis for 
ensuring safety. Concurrently, the Department's Office of Oversight 
is responsible for independent safety oversight. Its findings are 
communicated to line management through inspection reports (such as 
safety management evaluations), topical and issue reviews, special 
studies, and accident investigations. Adequate and timely resolution 
of safety findings is the responsibility of line management, which 
has overall responsibility for performing work safely, gathering and 
considering safety feedback, and making necessary improvements. By 
acting on the Board's recommendation, we expect to further clarify 
these roles and responsibilities, and promote effective 
communication between line management and the independent oversight 
organization. Both are essential to the effective resolution of 
identified oversight findings.
    The Department has completed a preliminary analysis of the 
issues raised in the Board's recommendation, and has identified the 
following as the foundation and focus of our implementation plan.
    •  The plan will describe a consistent, disciplined 
framework for developing and implementing corrective action plans in 
response to oversight findings, tracking and reporting status of 
corrective actions, verifying the completion of corrective actions, 
and resolving differences or issues that may arise relative to 
corrective actions. Department directives will be revised to 
implement the necessary framework.
    •  The role of the Office of the Secretary in resolving 
differences or issues that may arise in response to independent 
oversight findings will be clarified through enhancements to 
existing Department directives.
    I have asked Ms. Ellen Livingston-Behan, Senior Program Advisor 
to the Office of the Secretary, to serve as the responsible manager 
for this recommendation. As the principal point of contact with the 
Board for this recommendation, she will work with you and your staff 
to develop an acceptable implementation plan that meets our mutual 
expectations. If you have questions, please contact her at (202) 
586-9500.

      Yours sincerely,
Bill Richardson
[FR Doc. 98-32903 Filed 12-9-98; 8:45 am]
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