[DOE LETTERHEAD]

NATIONAL NUCLEAR SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

November 12, 2002

The Honorable John T. Conway

Chairman

Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board

625 Indiana Avenue, N. W.

Suite 700

Washington, D.C. 20004

Dear Mr. Chairman:

In a letter to you dated May 17, 2002, Dr. Beckner committed to provide some additional information on the Sandia Underground Reactor Facility (SURF) design as soon as this information was reviewed, verified, and ready for independent review. I have since decided to cancel the SURF project and want to formally close the aforementioned letter commitment.

If you have any questions, please contact me at 202-586-0568, or have your staff contact Mr. Ken Kellar at 30l-903-8046.

Sincerely,

David H. Crandall

Assistant Deputy Administrator

for Research, Development, and Simulation

Defense Programs

cc:

M. Whitaker, S-3.1

E. Beckner, NA-10

L. Brooks, NA-1