June 6, 1997
| TO: |
|
G. W. Cunningham, Technical Director |
| FROM: |
|
Jim McConnell and Harry Waugh, Pantex Site Representatives |
| SUBJECT: |
|
Pantex Plant Activity Report for Week Ending June 6, 1997 |
DNFSB Activity Summary: Timothy Dwyer and Harry Waugh were on site all week.
Mr. Dwyer spent most of his time this week completing the new employee training classes required for unescorted access to the MAA.
B61 mod 3 Event: At 0735 on Thursday, June 6th, during removal of the MC-2881 from a B61 mod 3 D&I Weapon, PTs heard a loud noise and saw wisps of black and gray smoke. The PTs secured the weapon and evacuated the bay. Appropriate notifications were made. M&H engineers responsible for the B61 program were contacted and correctly diagnosed the problem. There was no radioactive release and no external damage. The cause of this incident was attributed to contractor personnel using a B61 mod 7 procedure on the B61 mod 3. Several generic issues associated with make-up and training of response teams were also identified.
W69 NESS and HAR: At a meeting in Albuquerque, NM, the W-69 NESS group indicated that the fire protection issue it had raised must be treated as a generic issue affecting all operations at Pantex. Seismic issues regarding Building 12-64 remain unresolved. Board staff intends to discuss these issues with the Board in greater detail at a briefing scheduled for June 12th.
W79 Dismantlement: The W79 Project Team continues their efforts to implement a plan that would pull up the First Dismantlement Unit (FDU) date from the spring of 1998 to December 1997. Accordingly, a W79 Type 6B DMSO Single Internal Readiness Review has been scheduled commencing June 17th. DOE-AL and DOE-AAO have agreed that the project plan presented to DOE-AL last Thursday does not include a realistic schedule and will require rework. Other controversial items include revalidating (as opposed to reperforming) the baywork NESS and no consideration of potential generic issues arising from the W69 NESS.
Lightning Strike at Bldg 12-42A: A probable lightning strike at Building 12-42A, the Sandia Weapons Evaluation Test Laboratory (WETL), occurred during the early morning hours of May 30, 1997. Significant damage to one (out-of-service) motor control center was found. Data from the incident is being forwarded to Board staff.
Intervenor Group Interactions: The President of the Board of STAND has evidenced considerable interest in the resolution of Board staff concerns regarding Building 12-116. STAND personnel have copies of Board staff trip reports (obtained from the Board homepage) and were interested in point-by-point discussions of concerns.
June 10 -- B61-7 NESS Revalidation starts
June 10 -- W76 SS21 Milestone II meeting
June 11 -- B83 Program Review
June 12 -- DOE Public Meeting re: MOX EIS
June 16 -- M&H AT-400A ORR starts
June 17-23 -- W79 Type 6B DMSO Single Internal Readiness Review
July 7 -- W87 SEP starts
July 7 [tentative] -- DOE AT-400A ORR starts [if M&H ORR done]