A proposal by its Chairman Sean Sullivan to eliminate the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (DNFSB) is being opposed by the Regional
Coalition of LANL Communities, according to Executive Director Andrea Romero.
In a June 29 letter to the Office of Management and Budget, Sullivan proposed the elimination of the DNFSB calling it “a relic of the Cold War era defense establishment. While admitting that the DNFSB is the only agency providing independent advice, analysis and recommendations, Sullivan claimed that the Department of Energy has
developed its own oversight capabilities and that elimination of the DNFSB would save some $31 million in direct costs and end “unmeasured costs to DOE from responding to Board activities”.
Sullivan’s letter admitted that complete elimination of the DFNSB might be susceptible to “political blowback”. He said the savings are small, likely raising questions from “those who assume without evidence that an added layer
of independent nuclear safety oversight is de facto worth the cost”.
