The designation of Savannah River Site as a national laboratory is an important development for the longtime nuclear weapons facility and for state research universities. It doesn't mean that SRS will immediately undertake research at the level of established laboratories, such as Oak Ridge and Los Alamos, but it's a step in that direction.
"It broadens the horizons for jobs, longevity and stability" at SRS, says Ben Rusche, chairman of the state's Nuclear Advisory Council. Mr. Rusche, a former policymaker at the U.S. Department of Energy, tells us the designation will likely mean an expansion of current research in hydrogen for energy, robotics, waste management and national security, all of which are being done at SRS' Technical Center.
Former Gov. James B. Edwards, who also served as President Reagan's Secretary of Energy and president of the Medical University of South Carolina, says the designation is a welcome recognition of SRS' record of excellence in research. Dr. Edwards also cited SRS' work in hydrogen research and expressed the hope that SRS will become a national center for research on hydrogen as a fuel of the future.
The Technical Center also has research experience in nuclear waste management and mitigation for contamination, both related to the long-term environmental problems associated with the weapons plant. SRS operates a plant that encases nuclear waste in glass for long-term storage and is slated to see the development of a plutonium-to-fuel plant.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, who was instrumental in gaining the designation, describes it as one of the most significant developments at SRS in recent years. "The potential research and development opportunities that could come to SRS and South Carolina from this new designation are staggering and on the cutting-edge of technology," he says.
Despite the fears of state leaders in the recent past, the Energy Department clearly views SRS as more than a site for the storage and preparation of radioactive and chemical waste. SRS and its employees made a vital contribution to national security during the Cold War, and much of the work that will be conducted at the new national laboratory will continue to serve that goal. The designation is well deserved and good news for South Carolina.
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