[DNFSB LETTER HEAD]

April 29, 2008

The Honorable Samuel W.Bodman

1000 Independence Avenue, SW

Washington, DC 20585-1000

Dear Secretary Bodman:

The Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (Board) issued Recommendation 97-1, Safe Storage of Uranium-233, on March 3, 1997, to improve the safe handling and storage of uranium-233 at defense nuclear facilities. The Department of Energy (DOE) has completed all milestones in the Implementation Plan for this Recommendation. Accordingly, the Board closes the Recommendation.

Activities that can be viewed as extensions of the Recommendation’s implementation are ongoing. These activities include Uranium-233 Down blending and Disposition Project at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, planning by DOE’s Nuclear Materials Disposition and Consolidation Coordination Committee, and annual reports on uranium-233 disposition efforts. The Board will continue its oversight of these activities.

Sincerely,

A.J. Eggenberger

Chairman

c:

The Honorable Thomas P. D' Agostino

The Honorable James A. Rispoli

Mr. Glenn S. Podonsky

Mr. Mark B. Whitaker Jr.

Mr. Robert J. McMorland