SRS gets National Laboratory status

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The technology center will be the nation's 11th national laboratory and will be re-named the Savannah River National Laboratory.

"The national lab designation is like going from single-A ball to the major leagues," said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who lobbied for the designation along with other members of the South Carolina congressional delegation. "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."

According to the Department of Energy, the national laboratory system performs "research and development that is not well suited to university or private sector research facilities because of its scope, infrastructure, or multidisciplinary nature, but for which there is a strong public and national purpose."

Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham was joined by Graham, Gov. Mark Sanford and Third District Congressman Gresham Barrett, R-Westminster, at the announcement.

The technology center began operations in 1951 to provide research and development support for the department's nuclear facilities complex and national defense, according to the department.

The Savannah River National Laboratory will research nuclear waste processing, environmental restoration and remediation, non-proliferation technologies and national security projects.

The laboratory has an annual operating budget of $132 million, employs 750 workers and is operated by the Westinghouse Savannah River Company.