|
Walking and Talking in Washington DC
 Five representatives from the SRSCRO were in Washington, DC between February 15-18, 2011 doing a little talking and a lot of walking. During this time, 12 Congressional Delegation offices representing Georgia and South Carolina were visited and the representatives also participated in the annual Energy Communities Alliance (ECA) conference.
The discussion on Capitol Hill centered on the potential funding short-falls, associated with the Continuing Resolution and proposed FY 2012 budget, impacting national needs and security implications as they relate to H-Canyon and MOX operations at SRS. Due to the limited time to review the funding and evaluate alternatives, no clear solutions where provided by the Congressional Delegation. However, political strategies will be forth coming that will require a cohesive and unified position by all of the Delegation and the CSRA community.
At the ECA Annual Conference, major issues impacting Department of Energy (DOE) and energy communities in 2011 were discussed. Conference participants had the unique opportunity to learn about the impact of the Congressional election on DOE, the future direction of major DOE programs such as environmental cleanup, nuclear waste disposal, nuclear energy, Energy Parks and the transformation of the weapons complex. Both SRSCRO Board members David Jameson and Chuck Smith were part of interactive discussion panels providing key insights about the issues facing DOE and energy communities.
|
|
Aging Infrastructure Needs
- "We can't keep going in our old facility."
- "It's less expensive to work in a modern, safe facility than to try to heat old buildings and "shore them up,"
These are things said by Thomas D'Agostino, administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) during a recent trip to the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, TN. But they could just as easily apply to the Savannah River Site (SRS), especially when it comes to site infrastructure.
 | |
H-Canyon Construction |
 | |
H-Canyon Today |
Even though, DOE recognizes SRS as the premier location for new initiatives in the areas of energy independence, innovative technology, nuclear security and nonproliferation, as well as environmental stewardship, the SRS infrastructure is approaching 60 years old with one third of its administrative facilities being greater than 45 years old. Spending for infrastructure repairs/replacements has declined considerably as budget pressures increased and funds were needed to support direct mission activities.
These two elements, aged infrastructure and under funding, have resulted in a large volume of deferred maintenance and the need for capital improvements. Appropriate planning and funding for SRS infrastructure will ensure that long-term investments are made to meet the priority needs of SRS missions. To spur consideration and discussion of the need for infrastructure improvements, the SRSCRO 22-member citizen-led Board of Directors have taken the initiative to prepare a White Paper outlining some of the important considerations and our recommendations for action.
A copy of the White Paper can be found on the SRSCRO website on the "Infrastructure Improvements" page.
|
|
NWI Partners Speak at International Conference
 Nuclear workforce development programs from the greater CSRA were in the spotlight at the international Conference on Nuclear Education and Training (CONTE) during February 2011. Mindy Mets, Nuclear Workforce Initiative (NWI) Program Manager, presented, "Implementing a Two-State Nuclear Workforce Development Strategy" and explained how the region is Growing Our Own through Collaboration by facilitating educator and employer relationships. Dr. Tracy Pierner, Dean of Technical Education at Aiken Technical College, presented recent advances in the college's Radiation Protection Technology program. Augusta Technical College's Nuclear Engineering Technology program was discussed in a presentation by Robert Collins from Southern Nuclear Company along with JoAnne Robinson, Dean of Information and Engineering Technology at Augusta Tech. Many other NWI partners attended including representatives from Southern Company and SCE&G.
With approximately 500 conference participants from across the United States and around the world, one message rang clear - the nuclear industry is growing and requires a rapidly increasing skilled workforce to succeed. Attendees came from many countries including Nigeria, United Kingdom, Canada, Spain, United Arab Emirates, Korea, Taiwan, and Sweden.
CONTE was co-sponsored by the American Nuclear Society and the European Nuclear Society and focused on nuclear training, education and workforce issues. For more information go to http://www.new.ans.org/meetings/m_114
|
NWI at SRS CAB
The Nuclear Workforce Initiative (NWI) was presented at the January 2011 Full Board meeting of the Savannah River Site Citizens Advisory Board (SRS CAB). At the request of the SRS CAB, Mindy Mets, NWI Program Manager, discussed the history and impacts of NWI partnerships designed to address the long-term need for highly skilled workers in the region's nuclear industry. Don Bridges, SRS CAB Chair, expressed appreciation for the NWI update and he noted, "It was well received." The SRS CAB is part of the Environmental Management Site Specific Advisory Board established to provide recommendations to the Department of Energy on issues affecting Environmental Management. For more information contact Mindy Mets. |
|
|
|
SRSCRO Spotlight |
SRSCRO Board Member Dr. Tom Hallman Chancellor of University of South Carolina Aiken 
Tom Hallman has been a SRSCRO Board Member since 1997 and serves in the SRSCRO Audit Committee and the Nuclear Workforce Task Force.
Tom was born in Charleston, South Carolina, and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from The Citadel in 1969. He later earned a Master of Education degree from The Citadel, and was awarded a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from the University of South Carolina in Columbia in 1993. Professionally, his resume includes a diverse set of experiences, including service as: an Infantry officer in the 82nd Airborne Division, a high school teacher and coach, co-owner and Creative Director of an advertising agency, executive director of a school-to-work initiative, and, more than thirty years of work in public higher education in South Carolina.
Since 1983, he has worked in various administrative roles at USC Aiken. He currently holds the position of Chancellor. In that job, he serves as the Chief Executive Officer for the campus, reporting directly to the President of the University of South Carolina, Dr. Harris Pastides. Additionally he serves as institutional liaison with several regional groups in matters related to sponsored research and local economic development. He is Vice Chair of the Savannah River Site Redevelopment Authority, Past-President of the Aiken Rotary Club, a member of the Lower Savannah Regional Education Center Advisory Board, Past Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Aiken Chamber of Commerce, Past President of the Aiken Kiwanis Club, a former Chair of Leadership Aiken County, and past President of the Peach Belt Conference Board of Directors. He currently serves as the South Carolina representative on the Executive Council of the Commission on Colleges, which is the governing board of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Tom is married to the former Susan West, of Woodruff, SC, an OB/GYN Nurse Practitioner in private practice in Augusta, and they have two children: David - 21, a Junior at USC Aiken, and Caroline - 19, a Freshman at USC Columbia. |
|
