 Energy Park Peer Exchange
Just last week, approximately 50 people across the DOE complex participated in an ECA sponsored peer exchange. This peer exchange provided each community with an opportunity to share ideas and learn about Energy Park projects at different ECA communities. Those attending with SRSCRO ties included David Jameson, Chuck Smith, Fred Humes, and Rick McLeod. Karen Guevara from DOE-SR was also in attendance. David Jameson, SRSCRO Chair, said the trip was worthwhile and the exchange of information was very beneficial and offered the following impression:
"We learned that for a variety of reasons each site is dealing with Energy Parks differently, that there is no strategic approach yet from DOE-HQ regarding Energy Parks, and that many folks throughout the DOE complex are interested in seeing the parks developed, but communities are having a difficult time articulating a compelling vision for Energy Parks to support America's future energy needs. With this new information, I believe we can better package our proposal and that we have a good chance to move our Energy Park request forward."
Of particular note are the two recent legislative actions (House Bill H.R. 5136 and Senate Bill S.3454). Both Bills have authorization provisions for the establishment of Energy Parks on defense nuclear facilities, like SRS. For more information on the Energy Park Initiative or the legislative authorizations contact Rick McLeod. |
Blue Ribbon Commission on America's Nuclear Future - Update
The Blue Ribbon Commission (BRC) on America's Nuclear Future will have its next meeting at Hanford on July 14th and 15th. The group said it chose to have the meeting in the Tri-Cities to see how a community near a nuclear site is affected. It was also said the Commission chose Richland because traveling to the Hanford Reservation provides a unique opportunity for the Commission to hear first-hand how diverse state and local constituencies are impacted directly by hosting a large nuclear facility. In addition to this meeting, the BRC Disposal Subcommittee will meet July 7th in Washington, DC and the BRC Reactor and Fuel Cycle Technologies Subcommittee will meet July 12th and 13th in Idaho Falls, ID. Open dates for future meetings in 2010 include September 21st and 22nd and November 15th and 16th. In the verbal comments during the first BRC meeting, the SRSCRO asked that the BRC make a visit to the SRS community. The SRSCRO will continue to work to have the BRC visit our region. For more information go to http://brc.gov or contact Rick McLeod.
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New Contractor for SRS Tritium Operations?? The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) operates the Savannah River Site (SRS) Tritium Operations to supply and process tritium, a radioactive form of hydrogen gas that is a vital component of nuclear weapons. Today, the Tritium Extraction Facility (TEF) at SRS is the only source of new tritium for the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile. Tritium in the weapons stockpile must be replenished continually because it decays at the rate of 5.5 percent each year. Currently TEF is managed and operated under the Savannah River Nuclear Solutions (SRNS) M&O contract.
NNSA also operates the Y12 National Security Complex near Knoxville, Tenn., which houses uranium processing operations, and the Pantex Plant near Amarillo, Texas, which is responsible for nuclear weapon assembly and disassembly, as well as high explosives. Due to the simultaneous expiration of the contracts at Y-12 and Pantex (PX), the NNSA has decided to issue a solicitation to merge these two contracts with an option for phasing in the Savannah River Site (SRS) Tritium Operations work scope under the same contract. This means the potential for a new management and operation contractor for the SRS Tritium Operations. A formal Request for Proposal (RFP) is due out later this summer. Of considerable interest is how the new contract will handle what has been described as a "market-based" approach to retaining the existing workforce and the seamless approach to long-term support of basic infrastructure and core competencies supplied through another M&O contractor. For more information go to http://www.doeal.gov/MOContracts/Default.aspx or contact Rick McLeod.
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SRSCRO Spotlight |
SRSCRO ChairmanJ. David JamesonPresident of
Greater Aiken
Chamber of Commerce David Jameson is the current Chairman of the Board of the SRS Community Reuse Organization (SRSCRO). In addition to his Chairman responsibilities, David also serves in the SRSCRO Executive Committee, Nuclear Workforce Task Force, and Regional Planning Task Force. He has been a SRSCRO Board Member since 2006.
David has more than 36 successful years of Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development leadership and management with organizations in both South Carolina and North Carolina. While serving in these positions, he also volunteered in leadership roles with numerous professional organizations including the South Carolina Community Development Association and the South Carolina Economic Developers Association where he served in various capacities including President. In 2005, he was President of the Carolinas Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (CACCE), an organization that provides professional development programming for 150 Chambers in the Carolinas. In 1998, David was named North Carolina Chamber Executive of the Year.
David returned to Aiken to become President and CEO of the Greater Aiken Chamber of Commerce in February, 2006. From 1984 through 1990, he was the first Director of the Economic Development Partnership serving Aiken and Edgefield Counties. He is known for his ability to lead, his knowledge of the industry, and his contagious enthusiasm.
David and his wife Sandra live in Aiken, SC and have two married adult sons.
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