DNFSB RAPS SANDIA FOR CONDUCT OF OPERATIONS, MAINTENANCE

Calling Sandia National Laboratories’ failure to comply with Department of Energy requirements at its Technical Area V nuclear facilities “troubling,” the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board this week called on lab officials and their federal overseers to strengthen conduct of operations and maintenance programs at the site. In a May 12 letter to National Nuclear Security Administration chief Frank Klotz, DNFSB Chairman Peter Winokur said a Board review of Sandia’s Technical Area V facilities revealed that technical procedures were sometimes deficient and that federal and contractor oversight was lacking, though the Board acknowledged there were no "imminent" safety concerns. “Significant SNL management attention is needed to upgrade conduct of operations governance documents, heighten the rigor and formality of operations and maintenance activities, develop nuclear facilities’ maintenance implementing documents, and improve oversight and assessments,” DNFSB staff said in an April 8 report accompanying Winokur’s letter. “Many of the deficiencies and opportunities for improvement noted were the type that would normally be identified during period and rigorous contractor self-assessments or SFO oversight activities.”