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Chu's Departure
As reported last month, Department of Energy, Secretary Steven Chu did indeed announced his plans to leave his Cabinet post, telling DOE employees that he will stay until the end of February and possibly longer to allow a transition to his as-yet-unnamed successor. In a February 1, 2013, lengthy message to Department employees, Chu told them, "Serving as Secretary of Energy during such a momentous and important time has been incredibly demanding but enormously rewarding." Click here for a copy of the entire message.
Among the names of potential replacements that have been floated around are former North Dakota Democratic Senator Byron Dorgan, former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm (D); former Iowa Gov. Chet Culver (D) and former DOE official Cathy Zoi. Whether the White House will look to industry officials for a possible replacement remains to be seen. |
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Robots In Allendale
The University of South Carolina (USC) Salkehatchie is this month's spotlight in the continuing series about regional education and training programs developed as part of the Advancing Nuclear Skills Regionally (ANSR) grant. 
On Saturday, January 26 robots were battling in Allendale, SC. The USC-Salkehatchie Leadership Institute hosted the 1st Annual USC-Salkehatchie FTC Robotics Scrimmage that involved students from across the state. Since the start of the school year, high school students have been utilizing the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) program to acquire relevant technological skills. The teams designed, built, and programmed robots to accomplish a specified task and competed with a spirit of "coopertition" (cooperation mixed with competition). Participants will move on to the state competition on February 23 at South Carolina State University. Five student teams from across the state of SC and one team from NC traveled to attend the USC Salkehatchie event. The competition gave local educators and volunteers the opportunity to see the FTC program in action and to learn how to develop programs so that more local students can compete in future events.
Engaging students and teachers in relevant science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) activities, such as FIRST Tech Challenge, is the focus of USC Salkehatchie's ANSR program. Strong STEM skills are fundamental to the future nuclear workforce and offer even broader career opportunities for students. Through the USC Salkehatchie Leadership Institute, ANSR is supporting STEM summer camp programs that engage middle school students in hands-on technical skill development. Summer camp students participate in robotic design activities and environmental science exploration. High school students interested in chemistry and physics have toured the Applied Research Center to learn about hydrogen technology and other regional research. Through the ANSR program, USC Salkehatchie is able to expand distance learning course offerings in science using a new "smart" classroom.
At USC Salkehatchie Leadership Institute, plans are underway for next year's robotic challenge event and many other STEM activities. For more information contact Joey Espinosa, STEM Workforce Development Coordinator (jespinos@mailbox.sc.edu, 803-584-3446 ext. 115). |
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MOX
On August 1, 2007, the National Nuclear Security Administration's Office of Fissile Materials Disposition broke ground on the Mixed Oxide (MOX) Fuel Fabrication Facility here at the Department of Energy's Savannah River Site. One of the largest construction projects in the Southeastern United States comparable to construction projects at Plant Vogtle and V.C. Summer, the MOX facility employs more than 2,000 construction workers, designers and engineers. In addition, to its economic impact, the MOX facility will play an important role in U.S. national security and energy policy.
During the April 2010 Nuclear Security Summit, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov signed a protocol amending the 2000 Plutonium Management and Disposition Agreement (PMDA), which commits each country to dispose of no less than 34 metric tons (MT) of excess weapons-grade plutonium and envisions disposition of more weapon-grade plutonium over time. The combined amount, 68 metric tons, represents enough material for approximately 17,000 nuclear weapons that cannot be built once the disposition takes place.
The facility at SRS is being designed and built to meet U.S. conventions, codes, standards, and regulatory requirements, and will be licensed by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). Disposing of excess fissile materials has been a U.S. national security and nonproliferation objective since 1994 and has been endorsed by every President and Congress since that time. Despite this fact and the many benefits of MOX, some want to make sure it is never built or operated.
However, on February 5, 2013, all six existing South Carolina congressmen signed their names to a letter, urging President Barack Obama to financially back the MOX project at the Savannah River Site. Click here for a copy of the letter. In addition, on Sunday, February 3, 2013, Congressman Joe Wilson expressed his support for MOX in a letter to the editor of The State newspaper. Click here for a copy of the letter.
In addition, the local legislative delegation from Aiken County also wrote a letter to President Obama requesting continued support of the MOX project. Click here for a copy of the letter. Be aware that the concerns surrounding MOX are real and warrant your attention. |
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Sequestration Impacts
The Energy Department is considering placing employees on furlough as well as cutting programs, contracts, and grants in preparation for automatic federal spending cuts scheduled to take effect March 1, according to a department wide email reported by media outlets.
The email, sent Feb. 6 by Deputy Secretary Daniel B. Poneman (click here for a copy), warns that the budget cuts would be ''harmful'' to the department and that ''extensive planning efforts'' are under way within the agency ''to determine how we would deal with sequestration.''
''To this end, we are carefully considering how to use the various tools at our disposal to reduce costs in order to mitigate as much as possible the disruption to our operations, our programs, and all of you,'' the email said. ''However, our ability to do so will be limited by the rigid nature of the cuts imposed by Congress.'' According to the email, ''in many cases'' the Energy Department may need to make cuts to ''vital programs'' as well as curtail spending on contracts.
DOE defense sites undergoing environmental cleanup would be forced to suspend and/or delay cleanup activities and shut down facilities, the report said. Affected facilities would be placed in a safe standby condition, according to a report by the House Appropriations Committee Democrats. (Click here for a copy)
The Savannah River Site (SRS) would furlough more than 1,000 workers for about four months, the report said. About 4,000 to 5,000 workers across the nation would be affected. The White House on Feb. 8 released what it called a fact sheet (link here) outlining sequestration effects. It said that cuts for defense programs would be about 8 percent and cuts for nondefense programs would be about 5 percent.
However, because the cuts must be made only during the last seven months of fiscal 2013, the effective percentage reductions will be approximately 9 percent for nondefense programs and 13 percent for defense programs, the White House said.
If real, these cuts will have major implications for SRS!
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SRSCRO Spotlight | |
SRSCRO
Appointing Entity
From the moss-laden oaks along the Savannah River to the fields of white cotton and ripe peaches, Allendale County provides a haven for ideas and opportunities. Combined with the coordinated efforts of local governments and low construction costs, new industry will quickly reap the benefits of locating in our county. Allendale County is located in the Lowcountry region of South Carolina, one of the fastest growing regions in the US. The Allendale County Council consists of five council members elected from single member districts and one chairman for four year terms. The current Chairman of the Allendale County Council is Carl Gooding.
Barnwell County
The best of both worlds - that is Barnwell County in South Carolina. Barnwell is comprised of a strong manufacturing and industrial base that is balanced by agriculture, forestry, and tourism. Barnwell County is a compact 553 square miles which contains seven incorporated municipalities. Barnwell County's rural setting and low cost business environment has proven to be an excellent business location for new and expanding industry. Barnwell County Council consists of seven council members including the current Chairman Freddie Houston.
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The Allendale and Barnwell County Councils share one rotating 4-year term appointment to the SRSCRO Board. The current SRSCRO Board member appointed by Barnwell County is Mrs. Anne Rice.
Click on the name to learn more on Allendale and Barnwell County Councils.
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Board Member Recognized 
Special recognition was given to Mr. Troy Post for his service at the SRSCRO Board.
Mr. Post has been engaged SRSCRO Board Member since 2009 and served on the SRSCRO Land Use/Energy Park, Regional Funding, and Yucca Mountain Task Forces.
SRSCRO Executive Director Rick McLeod presented the award and thanked Mr. Post for his service to the SRSCRO. |
Welcome New SRSCRO Board Member
 Dr. J Christopher Noah will be serving as Columbia County appointee to the SRSCRO Board for the unexpired term until December 2015. Former Columbia County appointee, Mark Wills, will replace Troy Post as the Development Authority of Columbia County appointment . |
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