June 13, 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 13, 1997 |
DNFSB Activity Summary: Timothy Dwyer and Harry Waugh were on site all week.
William White was also on site three days to observe parts of the B61-7 NESS Revalidation.
B61-7 NESS Revalidation: The B61-7 NESS Revalidation began June 10th. This revalidation appears to be accomplishing little towards enhancing the safety of B61-7 operations. Design laboratory presentations were focused and appropriately detailed, but M&H presentations, particularly those on new/altered tooling, provided little information regarding the reasons for and the significance of tooling changes. Further, although these presentations were not detailed enough to justify NESS Group approval of the changes, the NESS Group did not call M&H to account and demand adequate documentation or other information. On a more positive note, M&H is incorporating many new/improved tooling and procedures developed for B61-0/2/5.
W76 SS-21 Milestone II Review: The W76 SS-21 Milestone II Review was conducted June 10th. Rather than formally reviewing the project and making a determination of readiness to continue, this "informal meeting" appeared to be more along the lines of a staff meeting for the Project Team, resulting in a group consensus on action items and follow-on assignments.
W87 Surveillance/Rebuild WPPR: The W87 Surveillance/Rebuild WPRR concluded June 11th, resulting in 21 prestart findings, 4 poststart findings, and 7 observations. There were no safety-related issues in the findings, although a number of them involved production technician performance. Several findings were classified as "prestart" solely because the W87 program is of such short duration that there is not time to address them if they are classified as "poststart."
Pantex-wide Emergency Exercise: A simulated tornado strike was held June 11th, involving all site personnel and exercising the new Emergency Operations Center. Pantex drill controllers rated the exercise "satisfactory." Board Site Reps informed the drill controllers, and DOE/M&H management (in significant detail) that the exercise should have been rated "failure."
DOE Public Hearing: DOE held two public hearings (scoping meetings) on the Surplus Plutonium Disposition EIS on June 12th. Approximately 200 people attended. Statements were presented by: 18 government officials (city, county, and state levels); 2 interested contractor officials; 1 church official; and 17 interested residents (9 as members of various intervenor groups). All comments regarding placement of either MOX or ARIES facilities at Pantex were positive, with the exception of four of the interested residents and all of the intervenor groups.
June 18-19 -- Beryllium Conference
June 18-24 -- W79 Type 6B DMSO Single Internal Readiness Review
June 19 -- B61-7 NESS Revalidation concludes
June 19 -- M&H AT-400A ORR starts
July 7 -- W87 SEP starts
July 7 [tentative] -- DOE AT-400A ORR starts [if M&H ORR done]
July 28-August 8 -- W56 WR Dismantlement Demo for HATT
Week of August 11 -- Major Sitewide Emergency Exercise
August 11-15 -- W56 Project Team and SE Validation