WATCHDOG GROUP URGES NNSA TO INCREASE EMPHASIS ON SAFETY IN EVALUATIONS

A New Mexico-based nuclear watchdog group is pushing for safety to play a more prominent role in the annual performance evaluation reviews at the National Nuclear Security Administration, and in particular, the agency’s Pantex Plant. In a letter to the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board, Nuclear Watch New Mexico noted that improving safety culture at the plant was not included in the NNSA’s Fiscal Year 2013 Performance Evaluation Plan for Pantex, though a Department of Energy Office of Health, Safety and Security review last year revealed significant problems with the plant’s safety culture and the DNFSB held a March 14 meeting in Amarillo on the subject. Safety is mentioned throughout the plan, but Nuclear Watch New Mexico suggested that the goals in the PEP are often vague and subjective. “If, in fact, a good safety culture is a priority, we would suggest that more concrete metrics and objective measures be put into future performance evaluation plans,” Nuclear Watch New Mexico Operations and Research Director Scott Kovac said in a May 24 letter to the DNFSB. “There needs to be a contractual obligation for good safety culture that is rigorously reviewed and subject to aggressive federal oversight, rather than the ‘eyes on, hands off’ approach that is currently being promoted.”

At the March DNFSB safety culture hearing, NNSA and plant contractor officials outlined plans to improve the safety culture at Pantex, but Nuclear Watch New Mexico said integrating the plans into the plant’s contract was necessary to drive real change. “A corrective action plan is not a fix. We need exact measures. We need to stick to these plans,” Kovac said. “It happens so many times where plans are started but not followed through with. Safety should become an integral and weighted component of future performance evaluations and awarded incentive fees.” The NNSA did not respond to a request for comment.