Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board
An independent federal agency that oversees public health and safety at DOE’s defense nuclear facilities and issues recommendations on cleanup and weapons-production safety.
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Cleanup & Remediation
DNFSB Cites Fire Protection Gaps at Savannah River Waste Facility
The Energy Department needs to address some shortcomings in fire protection at the Solid Waste Management Facility (SWMF) at the Savannah River Site in South Carolina, the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (DNFSB) said recently. There is no comprehensive fire-detection system covering the entirety of the facility, which is staffed only four days per week […]
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Transuranic Waste
DNFSB Warns of Fire Protection Gaps at Savannah River Waste Facility
The Energy Department needs to address some shortcomings in fire protection at the Solid Waste Management Facility (SWMF) at the Savannah River Site in South Carolina, the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (DNFSB) said recently. There is no comprehensive fire-detection system covering the entirety of the facility, which is staffed only four days per week […]
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Cleanup & Remediation
DNFSB Cites Concerns With IWTU Safety Basis
The Department of Energy has not fully analyzed the risk of certain types of accidents at the Idaho National Laboratory’s Integrated Waste Treatment Unit (IWTU), according to the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (DNFSB). In a March 27 letter to DOE, the DNFSB cited weaknesses in the safety planning conducted for the IWTU: These types […]
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Budget & Policy
DNFSB Budget Request About Flat at $31M for 2019
The White House requested roughly $31 million for the independent Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board in 2019, roughly even with the appropriation that now funds the independent health-and-safety watchdog of the Department of Energy’s nuclear-weapon sites. The requested budget of $30.6 million is less than one percent lower than the $30.9 million the Defense Nuclear […]
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Budget & Policy
Trump Administration Keeps DNFSB Funding Level in Fiscal 2019 Request
The White House requested roughly $31 million for the independent Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board in 2019, roughly even with the appropriation that now funds the independent health-and-safety watchdog of the Department of Energy’s nuclear-weapon sites. The requested budget of $30.6 million is less than one percent lower than the $30.9 million the Defense Nuclear […]
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Budget & Policy
DNFSB Budget Request About Flat at $31M for 2019
The White House requested roughly $31 million for the independent Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board in 2019, roughly even with the appropriation that now funds the independent health-and-safety watchdog of the Department of Energy’s nuclear-weapon sites. The requested budget of $30.6 million is less than one percent lower than the $30.9 million the Defense Nuclear […]
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Nuclear Weapons & Stockpile
Chairman Sean Sullivan Leaves DNFSB, Quietly
Longtime member Sean Sullivan was set to leave the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (DNFSB) today after a short and tumultuous run as chairman, during which he suggested eliminating the independent federal agency where he has worked for the last five years. Sullivan announced his impending exit on Jan. 19 in a memo circulated to […]
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Nuclear Weapons & Stockpile
DNFSB Inching Closer to First Recommendation to Trump Administration’s DOE
The Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (DNFSB) is set to consider a draft recommendation for the Department of Energy, according to a vote tally posted online. The board voted three to zero in favor of a meeting to consider a “staff generated outline for a draft recommendation provided to the Board on January 23, 2018,” […]
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Nuclear Weapons & Stockpile
DNFSB Selects CenturyLink & Collab9 For Secure Cloud Communications
The Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (DNFSB) has tapped CenturyLink [CTL] and collab9 to secure its enterprise communication networks with their joint cloud communications service. Under the deal, announced Jan. 31, the two companies will deliver their Unified Communications as a Service (UCaas) platform to start DNFSB’s transition to cloud computing platforms. “CenturyLink is excited […]
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Cleanup & Remediation
DNFSB Chairman Sean Sullivan Exits Quietly
Longtime member Sean Sullivan was set to leave the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (DNFSB) today after a short and tumultuous run as chairman, during which he suggested eliminating the independent federal agency where he has worked for the last five years. Sullivan announced his impending exit on Jan. 19 in a memo circulated to […]
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Contracts & Procurement
Wrap Up: DNFSB Selects Firms for Secure Cloud Communications
By Matthew Beinart Defense Daily The Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (DNFSB) has tapped CenturyLink [CTL] and collab9 to secure its enterprise communication networks with their joint cloud communications service. Under the deal, announced Jan. 31, the two companies will deliver their Unified Communications as a Service (UCaas) platform to start DNFSB’s transition to cloud computing platforms. “CenturyLink is […]
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Contracts & Procurement
DNFSB Selects CenturyLink & Collab9 For Secure Cloud Communications
The Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (DNFSB) has tapped CenturyLink [CTL] and collab9 to secure its enterprise communication networks with their joint cloud communications service. Under the deal, announced Jan. 31, the two companies will deliver their Unified Communications as a Service (UCaas) platform to start DNFSB’s transition to cloud computing platforms. “CenturyLink is excited to work with collab9 […]
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Budget & Policy
DNFSB Inching Closer to First Recommendation to Trump Administration’s DOE
The Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (DNFSB) is set to consider a draft recommendation for the Department of Energy, according to a vote tally posted online. The board voted three to zero in favor of a meeting to consider a “staff generated outline for a draft recommendation provided to the Board on January 23, 2018,” […]
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Nuclear Weapons & Stockpile
Outgoing DNFSB Chair Suggests He Lost Staff’s Confidence
In his farewell memo last week, Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board Chairman Sean Sullivan suggested he lost the confidence of the 120 staff members of the independent safety watchdog he led for a year and wanted to disband. “Our fine staff deserves to be led by an executive the staff believes in,” Sullivan, a board […]
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Defense Low-Level Waste
Departing DNFSB Chair Suggests He Lost Staff’s Confidence
In his farewell memo last week, Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board Chairman Sean Sullivan suggested he lost the confidence of the 120 staff members of the independent safety watchdog he led for a year and wanted to disband. “Our fine staff deserves to be led by an executive the staff believes in,” Sullivan, a board […]
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Budget & Policy
Outgoing DNFSB Chair Suggests He Lost Staff’s Confidence
In his farewell memo last week, Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board Chairman Sean Sullivan suggested he lost the confidence of the 120 staff members of the independent safety watchdog he led for a year and wanted to disband. “Our fine staff deserves to be led by an executive the staff believes in,” Sullivan, a board […]
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Budget & Policy
DNFSB Chair Sullivan to Resign in February
Sean Sullivan will resign from the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety board on Feb. 2, a little more than a year after President Donald Trump elevated the longtime board member to chairman. The Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (DNFSB) announced Sullivan’s decision late Friday in a press release. In a memo to DNFSB staff, Sullivan said […]
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Cleanup & Remediation
DNFSB Highlights Savannah River Safety Breaches in Letter to Perry
Concerns are growing over safety violations at the Savannah River Site’s defense facilities, the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board said in a recent letter to Energy Secretary Rick Perry. The Jan. 4 letter, signed by DNFSB Chairman Sean Sullivan, said safety issues identified in a Sept. 8, 2017, report from staff at the DOE watchdog […]
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Cleanup & Remediation
DNFSB Highlights Savannah River Safety Breaches in Letter to Perry
Concerns are growing over safety violations at the Savannah River Site’s defense facilities, the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board said in a recent letter to Energy Secretary Rick Perry. The Jan. 4 letter, signed by DNFSB Chairman Sean Sullivan, said safety issues identified in a Sept. 8, 2017, report from staff at the DOE watchdog […]
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Cleanup & Remediation
Talk Increases of Federal Government Shutdown
After a series of temporary spending measures, major media outlets are reporting that the chance of a federal government shutdown is growing more likely at the end of the day Friday when the latest stop-gap ends. Congress on Dec. 21 adopted its third budget continuing resolution to all federal agencies operational through Jan. 19. Should […]
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Budget & Policy
DNFSB Sets Plan for Government Shutdown
The Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board, the safety watchdog for Department of Energy nuclear sites around the country, has issued a new plan for operations in the event of a federal government shutdown. Congress has until Jan. 19 to pass a budget for the remainder of fiscal 2018, or another continuing resolution to keep the […]
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Defense Low-Level Waste
DNFSB Sets Plan for Government Shutdown
The Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board, the safety watchdog for Department of Energy nuclear sites around the country, has issued a new plan for operations in the event of a federal government shutdown. Congress has until Jan. 19 to pass a budget for the remainder of fiscal 2018, or another continuing resolution to keep the […]
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Cleanup & Remediation
Herrera to be Deputy Technical Director at DNSFB
Katherine Herrera will become deputy technical director of the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (DNFSB) effective Dec. 24, a spokesperson for the independent federal nuclear health-and-safety group said this week. In her new position, Herrera will help manage about two-thirds of the board’s full-time employees as the No. 2 official in the DNFSB’s Office of […]
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Nuclear Weapons & Stockpile
Herrera to be Deputy Technical Director at DNSFB
Katherine Herrera will become deputy technical director of the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (DNFSB) effective Dec. 24, a spokesperson for the independent federal nuclear health-and-safety group said this week. In her new position, Herrera will help manage about two-thirds of the board’s full-time employees as the No. 2 official in the DNFSB’s Office of […]
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Nuclear Weapons & Stockpile
Herrera to be Deputy Technical Director at DNSFB
Katherine Herrera will become deputy technical director of the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (DNFSB) effective Dec. 24, a spokesperson for the independent federal nuclear health-and-safety group said Monday. In her new position, Herrera will help manage about two-thirds of the board’s full-time employees as the No. 2 official in DNFSB’s Office of the Technical […]
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Nuclear Weapons & Stockpile
DNFSB Cans Second Planned Closed-Door Meeting
One thing at least is now known about the Dec. 6 closed-door meeting of the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (DNFSB): it was the only one the five-member federal nuclear-site watchdog needed to mull a possible safety recommendation to the Department of Energy. The meeting was one of two planned so the DNFSB could “discuss […]
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Nuclear Weapons & Stockpile
DNFSB Cans Second Planned Closed-Door Meeting
One thing at least is now known about the Dec. 6 closed-door meeting of the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (DNFSB): it was the only one the five-member federal nuclear-site watchdog needed to mull a possible safety recommendation to the Department of Energy. The meeting was one of two planned so the DNFSB could “discuss […]
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Nuclear Weapons & Stockpile
DNFSB Ticks Off First of Two Closed-Door Meetings Ahead of Possible Recommendation
The Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (NNFSB) this week held the first of a pair of closed-door meetings during which the five-member watchdog group will discuss what could become its first recommendation to the Donald Trump administration’s Department of Energy. Jessie Hill Roberson, the board’s longest-serving member and a veteran of the George W. Bush […]
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Nuclear Weapons & Stockpile
Closed-Door DNFSB Meetings Start Wednesday in Washington
The Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (NNFSB) this week kicks off a pair of closed-door meetings during which the five-member watchdog group will discuss what could become its first recommendation to the Donald Trump administration’s Department of Energy. Jessie Hill Roberson, the board’s longest-serving member and a veteran of the George W. Bush and Barack […]
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Cleanup & Remediation
DNFSB Sets Closed-Door Meeting on DOE Safety Recommendation
The Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board plans to consider at least one nuclear safety recommendation to the Department of Energy during closed-door meetings in early December, according to notices published Monday. The specific topics to be discussed by the five-member Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (DNFSB) on Dec. 6 and Dec. 18 are unknown. In notices posted online, the […]





