| SRS is a U.S. asset There aren't many issues where you'll find a bipartisan consensus across two states, but political leaders in South Carolina and Georgia are clear about what they want for the future of the Savannah River Site. Let's just hope Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham will listen to them as he's welcomed to Aiken today to give a talk on his agency's new security policies. Abraham also is expected to have a few encouraging words to say about the Savannah River Technology Center. With recent funding cutbacks, job layoffs and delayed missions, SRS certainly could use some encouraging words from the energy secretary. What state and local officials would like to hear is that the SRTC, which has historically served as a research and development wing for the nuclear weapons plant, will be named a national laboratory or a center of excellence for hydrogen research or preferably both. But even gaining one of the designations could bring enormous benefits to SRS, says Mal McKibben, executive director of Citizens for Nuclear Technology Awareness. It would boost the center's status at DOE, generate more research opportunities and increase the likelihood of being assigned new missions - and eventually more jobs. In addition to bringing some good news about the technology center, Abraham also would gladden hearts in our two-state area if he puts the arm on Congress to end its pointless delay of a final environmental impact statement that would enable DOE to move ahead on its modern "pit" facility to replace the nation's aging nuclear-weapons triggers. The project, costing between $2.2 billion and $4.1 billion to build, would create up to 1,100 high-paying construction jobs and about 1,800 science and nuclear engineering jobs upon its completion, which would take about eight years. Such a mission would ensure a bright future for SRS that, for now, is mostly charged with cleaning up radioactive waste after 40 years of the Cold War. There are five sites, including SRS, that are in the running for the project, and the final environmental impact statement will guide Abraham's site selection decision which, if it hadn't been for Congress' inexplicable delay, would have been made by now. Although competition for the project is fierce with congressional politics playing a critical role, as a practical matter many nuclear experts believe SRS offers the Energy agency the best combination of existing infrastructure, personnel and regional support. Moreover, the "pit" mission would not be a new experience for SRS. In fact, it would return the site to its original purpose - nuclear weapons production. What's most important, though, is for Abraham to make the case to Congress and the administration that SRS is a significant national asset capable of handling many missions besides just cleaning up nuclear waste. It must not be allowed to wither and die.
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