SRSCRO Annual Congressional Staff Workshop
 The SRSCRO hosted its fourth annual workshop for Congressional staff representing GA and SC (Washington, DC and local) on August 13-15. It consisted of one half-day meeting where the staffers heard about SRSCRO initiatives including the Nuclear Workforce Initiative and community concerns about SRS issues.  The group also got a site tour of the MOX facility, the Salt Waste Processing Facility (SWPF), and the Biomass Cogeneration Facility operated by Ameresco.  In addition, they had the opportunity to interact with the native wildlife and hear about the ecological research at the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory (SREL), along with presentations by Savannah River Remediation (SRR) and Savannah River Nuclear Solutions (SRNS). The workshop objective of having the delegations from both sides of the river better informed about our local initiatives can only make the communities stronger, politically, and the staffers better informed.
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SRS Deferred Maintenance & Infrastructure
 Deferred maintenance projects are defined by DOE (DOE Order 430.1B) as maintenance that was not performed when it should have been or was scheduled to be and which, therefore, is put off or delayed for a future period.
In response to a recent deferred maintenance incident (below ground truck fire) at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) that occurred just prior to the current shut down operations there, the Department of Energy's Office of Environmental Management (DOE-EM) asked contractors and site field offices across the complex to perform a review of deferred maintenance issues.
A glimpse of the deferred maintenance backlog at SRS can be found in the recently released SRS Ten Year Site Plan. The plan states - "SRS deferred maintenance (DM) is currently estimated to be just over one billion dollars. This deteriorating infrastructure has increasingly resulted in reduced operational capability and higher repair or replacement costs." It goes on to say - "Over the past 10 years, funding for infrastructure maintenance has declined considerably as budget constraints increased and funds were needed to support direct mission activities. As a result, cannibalizations of parts, costly piecemeal maintenance, temporary modifications, and in some cases work-arounds have been performed in order to sustain functional performance of many facilities, equipment and systems. This has resulted in an excessive, expensive and inefficient utilization of resources and increased the cost of future capital infrastructure investment."
The plan notes the value of the Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) as the lead National Laboratory supporting the DOE-EM program. However, to fulfill this role, "SRNL will need to assure that both infrastructure and core competencies are available and sufficient to meet expectations associated with both a Site and national program."
 These issues are not a surprise to the SRSCRO. Many of these concerns were addressed in the January 2011 "Whitepaper" addressing the SRS infrastructure issues. The recommendations made over four years ago are still valid: (1) DOE place a high priority on addressing the aging infrastructure at SRS, (2) Separate, new Federal funding be designated immediately for infrastructure improvements at Savannah River Site based on a priority plan established by the Site contractor(s) and approved by DOE; and (3) any funding for infrastructure improvements must not impede or impact the SRS mission or budget for DOE-EM's environmental cleanup mission, including the liquid waste remediation effort or the NNSA Defense Programs and nonproliferation missions at SRS. We were not alone in our concerns. The Carlsbad community also asked for WIPP maintenance funding four years prior to truck fire (click here). Now, four years later, that we have DOE's attention and we have a plan - we need appropriate action to resolve these concerns. |
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SRS: A Place for Solutions
The following Op-Ed, by Dr. Susan Winsor and Sanford Loyd, was sent to regional newspapers on August 14, 2014. Dr. Susan Winsor is President of Aiken Technical College and Chair of the SRS Community Reuse Organization (SRSCRO). Sanford Loyd is a Certified Public Accountant in Augusta and serves as Vice Chair of the SRSCRO.SRS: A Place for SolutionsSixty years ago, when the Nation needed solutions to unprecedented Cold War challenges driven by creating and maintaining an effective nuclear deterrent, the Savannah River Site delivered. And SRS has been delivering solutions ever since.  When Dr. Ernest Moniz, the nation's 13th Secretary of Energy, visited the Savannah River Site (SRS) recently, he was quick to recognize that SRS still has unique capabilities that lend themselves to new Department of Energy and international missions. He singled out the Savannah River National Laboratory as a "national treasure" and H-Canyon, the only secure nuclear chemical separations plant in the U.S. He also noted that SRS is the only site in the DOE complex to actually empty and permanently close high-level waste tanks and successfully convert high-level waste into glass - a process pioneered at SRS that no other site has been able to duplicate. Yes, throughout its history, SRS has been a place for solutions. - When America needed special materials like plutonium and tritium for the U.S. nuclear arsenal during the Cold War, SRS delivered.
- When scientists needed a reliable, long-term energy supply for deep space missions, SRS delivered.
- When DOE needed to convert Cold War-era liquid radioactive waste into a solid form for safe storage, SRS delivered.
- When international treaties demanded that former world foes mutually abolish their stores of key ingredients for nuclear weapons, SRS delivered.
- When the government wanted to demonstrate that high-tech nuclear production operations could co-exist harmoniously with the environment, SRS delivered, becoming the nation's first National Environmental Research Park.
Click here for more
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What a TREAT!
 The annual Savannah River Site (SRS) Teaching Radiation, Energy and Technology (TREAT) Workshop was held July 23-25, 2014 at the University of South Carolina Aiken. Participants included more than 30 teachers from the SRSCRO region of Georgia and South Carolina and Department of Energy interns. A new workshop topic was included this year as a result of the Nuclear in Action program. Participants learned about ways that nuclear technology is part of everyday life through conversation and an art activity led by Suzy Hobbs Baker, founder of PopAtomic Studios. The SRSCRO provided information about local nuclear career options and local college education programs that students might consider. Educators and interns also learned about the Basics of Radiation, SRS Education Outreach events and Environmental Monitoring as related to SRS from experts in the community. TREAT is funded and coordinated through a grant from the Department of Energy on Environmental Radiation and Community Awareness.
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NNSW 2014
 National Nuclear Science Week is celebrated annually across the United States. This year's celebration is set for October 20-24, 2014. It is a week-long opportunity to focus local, regional and national interest on all aspects of nuclear science. The SRSCRO region has a great deal to celebrate! Our region is at the forefront of nuclear technology through activities at the Savannah River Site, Plant Vogtle, V.C Summer Nuclear Station, Nuclear Medicine at GRU and the many supporting academic programs in the region. The community is continuing many of the site tours and education outreach activities that began during last year's celebration. To learn more visit our website. Information is updated regularly on the site so check back often!
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SRSCRO Spotlight
SRSCRO
Strategic Alliances
and
Partnerships
Citizens for Nuclear Technology Awareness Mission Statement: The Mission of Citizens for Nuclear Technology Awareness (CNTA) is education. The CNTA provides factual, objective information on nuclear subjects for the public, teachers, students, public officials, and at public hearings. They do this to improve public knowledge on the real benefits and comparative risks of nuclear activities, including nuclear production of electricity, nuclear medicine, food irradiation, nuclear weapons production, and nuclear waste management. They also seek new nuclear missions for the Savannah River Site (SRS) and the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA).
Nuclear energy provides 20 percent of our nation's electricity safely and reliably. One in three Americans entering a hospital receives a procedure involving radiation ... most of which are potentially life-saving procedures. Unfortunately, a majority of Americans today do not realize the many positive advantages of nuclear energy - which is one reason CNTA was created.
In 1991, CNTA was formed as a non-profit, grass-roots citizens' organization. It is composed of individuals from all walks of life, including business and community leaders, elected officials, nuclear-related employees, and others. CNTA addresses stereotypes and misconceptions with facts derived from a variety of credible sources, including regulators, technical experts, universities, a host of independent researchers, and the considerable expertise within their membership. Through public forums, speeches and presentations, newspaper articles, editorial opinion pieces, and radio and television interviews, CNTA is active and visible in the debate about nuclear energy and in support of Savannah River Site missions.
CNTA sponsors the annual Edward Teller Lecture/Banquet, named for the famed nuclear pioneer who played a key role in the development of nuclear weapons during World War II and during the Cold War. Prestigious speakers nationwide have accepted invitations to speak at the Lecture. Some of those have included Secretary of Energy and Defense Dr. James Schlesinger, former Senate Majority and Reagan Chief of Staff Howard Baker, Senator Pete Dominici, and House Majority Whip James Clyburn.
In 1996, CNTA created the annual Distinguished Scientist Award, to recognize significant achievements in the area of nuclear science at SRS. The award is presented to a deserving scientist each year at the Teller Lecture.
In 2002, CNTA created the annual Robert Maher Scholarship Award, founded by Washington Savannah River Company, to recognize area students who are pursuing studies and careers in a nuclear field.
The CNTA monthly membership breakfasts - known as "Up and Atom" breakfasts - feature speakers on nuclear topics and report on CNTA's activities. They also have a Speakers Bureau as part of education outreach.
Reporters and elected officials recognize CNTA as an accessible and reliable source of factual information, and CNTA officials meet routinely with elected officials on the local, state, and federal level to discuss nuclear and SRS-related issues.
The CNTA is committed to being a credible, consistent voice on behalf of beneficial nuclear technologies and the Savannah River Site.
The CNTA needs your help to ensure that our voice is being heard. The future of our region and nation depends on all of us.
The CNTA invites you to join and make a difference.
For more information, please check the CNTA web site at www.c-n-t-a.com |
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