The U.S. Department of Energy officially released the Final Surplus Plutonium Disposition Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (Final SPD Supplemental EIS) on May 8, 2015. On March 28, 2007, DOE published a Notice of Intent (NOI) in the Federal Register(72 FR 14543) to prepare the SPD Supplemental EIS to evaluate the potential environmental impacts at the Savannah River Site (SRS) in South Carolina of disposition pathways for surplus weapons-usable plutonium (referred to as "surplus plutonium") originally planned for immobilization. Before the Draft SPD Supplemental EIS was issued, DOE decided to modify the scope of this SPD Supplemental EIS and evaluate additional alternatives. Therefore, on July 19, 2010, and again on January 12, 2012, DOE issued amended NOIs (75 FR 41850 and 77 FR 1920) announcing its intent to modify the scope of this SPD Supplemental EIS.

In preparing this Final SPD Supplemental EIS, DOE considered comments received during the three scoping periods (2007, 2010, 2012), during the public comment period on the Draft SPD Supplemental EIS (July 27 through October 10, 2012), and considered every comment received at the public hearings. The SRSCRO provide this letter and these public comments during the 2012 period. There is not an open public comment period on this Final SPD Supplemental EIS.

In this document DOE "describes the environmental impacts of alternatives for disposition of 13.1 metric tons (14.4 tons) of surplus plutonium for which a disposition path is not assigned, including 7.1 metric tons (7.8 tons) of plutonium from pits that were declared excess to national defense needs after publication of the 2007 NOI, and 6 metric tons (6.6 tons) of surplus non-pit plutonium. The analyses also encompass potential use of MOX fuel in reactors at the Sequoyah and Browns Ferry Nuclear Plants of TVA, and at generic reactors." The document was not intended "to reconsider DOE's previous decisions about pursuing the MOX fuel approach for 34 metric tons (37.5 tons) of weapons-grade plutonium."

In addition to a No Action Alternative, DOE considered four disposition options:

As a result of the assessment, DOE stated that it "has no Preferred Alternative at this time for the disposition of the 13.1 metric tons (14.4 tons) of surplus plutonium."

Consistent with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act, once a Preferred Alternative is identified, DOE will announce its preference in a Federal Register notice.  No action can be taken until the decision has been made public and the ROD is published in the Federal Register. But again, no open public comment period is expected.
 

Curriculum development is complete on the five new degree programs established through the Advancing Nuclear Skills Regionally (ANSR) program.  Students have enrolled in coursework over the last years and many are beginning internships this summer.  New graduates are beginning to work in the SRSCRO region.

Brooke Stagich is among the ANSR students starting to consider local employment opportunities.  Brooke completed her junior year in GRU's nuclear science program and is excited about spending the summer as an intern at the Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL).   Chris Sailors graduated from the GRU nuclear science program and is working for Georgia Power.  Both Brooke and Chris had the opportunity to share the value of the program with Pete Yerace, the Department of Energy project officer for ANSR, on his recent visit to the SRSCRO region.   (Pictured left to right: Brooke Stagich, Pete Yerace and Chris Sailors.) 

Similar success is occurring throughout the region in other ANSR programs. USCA students enrolled in the Environmental Remediation and Restoration Program (ERRP) are active in undergraduate research.  These students also have opportunities for radioecology internships at the Savannah River Ecology Lab (SREL) and SRNL.  ERRP graduates have moved into the workforce with environmental companies and on projects associated with the Savannah River Site.  Several have moved into further research through graduate-level programs.

Students from the Chemical Technology program at Augusta Technical College are finding employment.  Glenn Bostic, Jr. recently graduated from the program and is employed in a local laboratory.   Graffie Edler has a summer internship and will graduate in December.  Both students received advisement as part of the ANSR program from Natasha Poleate.  (Pictured left to right:  Glenn Bostic, Jr., Natasha Poleate and Graffie Edler) 

ANSR programs have been developed by involving advisory boards with members from the government and commercial sectors who provide guidance on program content as related to real industry requirements. Courses are designed to address the needs of non-traditional students, and scholarships are offered for most programs.  Click here  to learn more.