 The Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board (NWTRB) held a public meeting on October 29, 2014, in Augusta, Georgia. The NWTRB is an independent agency of the U.S. government that evaluates the scientific and technical validity of the Department of Energy's activities in managing and disposing of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste in accordance with the 1987 amendments to the Nuclear Waste Policy Act. ( click here for a short description of the Board & its mission) The NWTRB meets several times a year at different locations and had not visited the Savannah River Site in a number of years. The NWTRB ultimate goal is the disposal of SRS waste. The agenda ( click here) covered many SRS topics, including the storage and processing of spent fuel, alternatives for dry storage and issues related to the aging of the facilities involved in these operations. In addition, the NWTRB discussed vitrification of high-level waste (HLW), and the storage of the vitrified waste, including production rates for SRS HLW canisters and plans for a new vitrified-waste-storage facility. SRS senior managers of spent nuclear fuel processing and storage gave updates on these topics. In coming months, you will be able to find full transcripts of the SRS meeting at http://www.nwtrb.gov/meetings/meetings.html, along with copies of the presentations and public comments. In addition, a future report on the findings and recommendations associated with the SRS visit is expected.
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Commingling
 On October 23, 2014, the Department of Energy released its " Assessment of Disposal Options for DOE-Managed High-Level Radioactive Waste and Spent Nuclear Fuel." The long awaited "commingling report". This report is in response to a recommendation made by the Blue Ribbon Commission on America's Nuclear Future (BRC) which recommended that the Administration conduct a review of the current policy to dispose of defense and commercial high level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel in a single repository or repositories. The wastes managed by the DOE include HLW primarily resulting from nuclear defense activities and used fuel mainly from weapons plutonium production reactors and from nuclear-powered ships and submarines. These wastes are projected to total around 33,424 cubic meters by 2035, when they will account for some 15% of the total HLW and used fuel to be disposed of.
"Based on today's understanding, selection of disposal options with suitable characteristics might allow DOE to simplify waste treatments, potentially accelerating cleanup activities and avoiding or reducing costs associated with projected treatments for some parts of the waste inventory."
 Since the mid-1980s, the DOE has planned to dispose of all HLW and used nuclear fuel, regardless of its origin, in one or more shared geologic repositories. The report considered whether DOE-managed HLW and used fuel should be disposed of with commercial HLW and used fuel in one geologic repository or whether there are advantages to developing separate repositories for each. The DOE report states: "Specifically, this report recommends that the DOE begin implementation of a phased, adaptive, and consent-based strategy with development of a separate mined repository for some DOE-managed HLW and cooler DOE-managed SNF, potentially including some portion of the inventory of naval SNF. This report notes that, in addition to early development of a separate repository for cooler DOE-managed HLW and SNF, effective implementation of a strategy for management and disposal of all HLW and SNF would also include a focused research, development, and demonstration program addressing technologies relevant to deep borehole disposal of smaller DOE-managed waste forms and the disposal of large DOE-managed waste packages with high thermal loads in mined repositories."
The potential advantages for doing this as noted in the report include:
- Fewer challenges. The report notes that a repository used exclusively for the disposal of DOE-managed HLW and SNF not of commercial origin can be sited and developed outside the framework of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982.
- It requires little further technology development to support repository design and licensing.
- Provides a pathway for timely progress on DOE's cleanup mission.
- Could provide a greater degree of public acceptability.
- Potential savings to taxpayers
However, the commercial nuclear industry position is different. They believe the disposal pathways and the obligations for managing both DOE high-level waste and commercial used nuclear fuel should be addressed simultaneously, not sequentially as the recommendations in the report seem to suggest. According to this group, the DOE report indicates DOE wants to put commercial spent fuel in the back of the disposal line. Industry officials believe that step is both unnecessary and unfair.
The industry represented group, Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI), wants Congress to fund, and the Administration to continue, the review of the Yucca Mountain repository license application. NEI believes it is in the best interest of this nation that the Federal Government begins to meet its legal obligations as soon as possible and to establish a viable program for the long-term management and disposal of commercial used nuclear fuel and DOE high-level radioactive waste.
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Nuclear Education Through Art
 A year has passed since the program, Nuclear in Action, began through a partnership of the SRSCRO, The Nuclear Literacy Project and the Citizens for Nuclear Technology Awareness (CNTA). Nuclear in Action is an arts-integrated outreach program designed to introduce nuclear technology topics to younger citizens in the SRSCRO region. Suzanne Hobbs Baker (pictured), Director of The Nuclear Literacy Project, provided 11 sessions of the program to 300 students and educators with great success. Participants enjoyed the modular format that allows for variation of topics based on audience interests and time constraints. Program modules include: SRS History, Nuclear Education and Opportunities, Nuclear Medicine, Nuclear Fuel Cycle, Nuclear Technology, Nuclear Safety and Security.  The popular art component, Anatomy of an Atom, provides participants an opportunity to casually discuss the nuclear topics while developing an artistic piece to keep. Technical information used for Nuclear in Action is based on the well-established CNTA Teacher Workshop, "Bringing Nuclear into the Classroom." Young professional organizations in the region are considering use of the Nuclear in Action program as part of their outreach activities. The program, including presenter instructions, is available on-line at http://nuclearinaction.weebly.com/Nuclear in Action development was supported by the New Mexico Community Foundation and the US Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management through a one-year cooperative award #DE-EM0000673/Grant #2013-8382.
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SRSCRO Spotlight
SRS Heritage Foundation
"Preserving and Interpreting the Heritage of the Savannah River Site"
The SRS Heritage Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established to preserve and interpret the role of the Savannah River Site (SRS) in winning the Cold War. It focuses on technical and scientific achievements, sociological impacts, and ecological accomplishments. Activities include a range of education and outreach programs. On October 28, 2014, officials from the Savannah River Site (SRS) Heritage Foundation, Aiken County and Savannah River Nuclear Solutions (SRNS) gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to launch the new SRS Museum. 
"It is with great pleasure the Savannah River Heritage Foundation, Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, and Aiken County are able to share with you the attached news release and a photo of the SRS Museum Ribbon Cutting ceremony on Monday, October 27, at our new location at the former Dibble Memorial Library, 224 Laurens Street, SW, in Aiken.The SRS Museum will be opened to the public in 2015, the realization of ten years of planning and preparation. We hope you share in our excitement and continue to be a part of preserving the heritage of the Savannah River Site," said Walter Joseph, the Executive Director of the SRS Heritage Foundation. For more information, please check the SRS Heritage Foundation web site at http://www.srsheritage.org/index.html |
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Nuclear Education Featured
 Nuclear-related education and training programs in the SRSCRO region were featured on Oct. 29, 2014 at the annual Empowerment Conference hosted by the Savannah River Chapter of Federally Employed Women.
The SRSCRO facilitated the panel through the Nuclear Workforce Initiative. Educators from area colleges and universities explained the variety of local options for individuals seeking to advance or change career paths.
Panel participants were: Dr. Viginia Shervette & Dr. Senela Porca, University of South Carolina Aiken; Dr. Gemma Frock and David Deal, Aiken Technical College; Dr. Joseph Newton, Georgia Regents University Augusta; John Arena, Augusta Technical College. |
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Facts & Truths
Election Facts:  North Korea holds elections every 5 years, in which the ballots list only one candidate.The United States has had more Vice Presidents than Presidents. Victoria Woodhull became the first woman to run for President in 1872.Jeanette Rankin of Montana became the first woman elected to Congress in 1916.John Kennedy is the youngest elected U.S. President at 43.Ronald Reagan is the oldest elected U.S. President at 73. (second term)Barack Obama is the nation's 44rd president but in reality there have only been 43 presidents. Grover Cleveland is counted twice as our 22nd and 24th president because he was elected for two nonconsecutive terms. |
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Nuclear in Action Art
 Click the picture for more Nuclear in Action Art
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