Perhaps you have noticed new billboards in our community as a reminder that we are Preparing our Own for Tomorrow's Jobs. Partnerships established through the SRSCRO's Nuclear Workforce Initiative (NWI�) are helping to ensure that our region maintains the highly skilled workforce needed for existing and long-term needs, particularly in the nuclear industry where our region is well-known for exceptional expertise.

A nuclear renaissance is occurring in our region. The pace is not always consistent, and budgets present problems, as always. Yet, progress marches on with construction of four new nuclear power plants - two at Southern Company's Plant Vogtle and two at SCANA Corporation's V.C. Summer. About 3500 people are needed to construct these new reactors at each site, and another 800 people will be needed at each site to train and operate the new facilities. The timing for hiring can vary as the skill needs change throughout the progress. In addition to the workforce needs at new facilities, existing facilities are dealing with an aging workforce. The average age among the 11,000 workers at SRS is 52 years. Meanwhile about half of the existing nuclear power plant workers will be eligible to retire in the next 10 years. Nuclear workforce needs do continue over the long-term for our region. 

As the nuclear industry has grown in our region, the SRSCRO's Nuclear Workforce Initiative has taken form. Our vision is to ensure that citizens of our region have the opportunity to develop the skills needed for jobs in our region, something we call Growing Our Own through Collaboration�. Our region includes five counties across two states (GA and SC) and we partner with employers, educators and economic development entities in this initiative. This regional collaboration is creating new opportunities for local citizens and a highly skilled workforce for our region's employers in the nuclear industry and other industries that rely on similar skill needs.

We are proud of the collaboration of five colleges across our two states. The colleges have partnered to develop new nuclear-related education and training programs in a project called Advancing Nuclear Skills Regionally (ANSR). We are very grateful to the Department of Energy for partnering with our colleges in this effort through grant funding as they have done with other programs in New Mexico and Washington State. 

Other NWI� collaborations have yielded tools such as on-line job shadows to help students understand the many nuclear career options and education programs that allow students to experience aspects of nuclear industry careers. Through NWI� partnerships, young students have more access to programs that introduce science and technology. NWI� relationships have been instrumental in our community's selection as the national spotlight for National Nuclear Science Week planned for October 21-25, 2013.

The SRSCRO continues to build on the collaboration we have established.  We know that our region will serve as the cradle for the nuclear renaissance for the next 5 years. Through partnerships, we are working to ensure that our region is preparing our own to meet current and future opportunities with an exceptional workforce.

The Environmental Management Advisory Board recently met in Augusta (June 14) and had a tour of the Savannah River Site (SRS) on June 13. During the Public Comment section of the meeting the SRSCRO and the Economic Development Partnership provided comments. These included comments about Asset Revitalization, Consent Base Approach, Nuclear Workforce Initiative, National Nuclear Science Week, and SRS Budget shortfalls.

The mission of the Environmental Management Advisory Board is to provide independent and external advice, information, and recommendations to the Assistant Secretary for Environmental Management (EM) on corporate issues relating to accelerated site clean-up and risk reduction.

The Board works to identify applicable private sector best management practices and provides counsel on how to integrate them into the EM program. EMAB provides strategic management advice on where and how to focus the Program's resources to achieve maximum impact and greatest risk reduction. The EMAB 15 board membership reflects a diversity of views, demographics, expertise, and professional and academic experience.