AIKEN, S.C. - On Nov. 28, 1950, newspapers and radio stations announced that the then-named Savannah River Plant would be constructed in Aiken and Barnwell counties in South Carolina at the direction of President Harry S. Truman.
Nearly 70 years later, South Carolina legislators honored the site, now called Savannah River Site (SRS), with a Senate resolution commemorating Nov. 28 as SRS Day in the state. Elected officials gathered with site leaders on the steps of the Aiken Municipal Building last month to bestow the framed resolution to SRS.
“The Savannah River Site and its 11,000 employees have an enormous, positive economic impact in our region," said State Sen. Tom Young, who sponsored the resolution. “Because of the importance of the site to our region and our state, it was important to recognize Nov. 28 in our state as SRS Day, to honor all current and former SRS employees for their important contributions to our national defense over these past 70 years."
Co-sponsors of the resolution included the Aiken legislative delegation and other representatives from counties south of SRS.
In only five years, a workforce that peaked with more than 38,000 workers constructed key production reactors and support facilities needed to execute the site’s mission - a monumental industrial and engineering feat often compared to the construction of the Panama Canal.
Since then, SRS has played a vital role in delivering materials and technologies of national significance, including fuel for NASA’s deep space program. The site also built and operates the world’s largest radioactive waste vitrification facility, and serves as the nation’s primary source of tritium to support the nuclear stockpile.
DOE-Savannah River Manager Mike Budney said the site’s history aligns with key events in America’s history over the past 70 years.
“The site was constructed in response to the Cold War to serve a vital role in America’s nuclear deterrent and nuclear nonproliferation and, along the way, we have developed countless innovative technologies that have strengthened national security, environmental stewardship, and even propelled America into the stars," Budney said. “SRS is a one-of-a-kind asset and I have no doubt our future will be as impressive as our past."
Jeffrey Allison, acting manager for the National Nuclear Security Administration Savannah River Field Office, said the site has served as a major cornerstone of America’s national defense infrastructure.
“The efforts of our predecessors directly contribute to the achievements we have enjoyed for decades," Allison said. “The SRS of today is continuing the traditions of the past - dedicated, patriotic, safe, secure, hard work - to ensure a continued legacy of success for decades to come."
The SRS platinum anniversary has been celebrated throughout Aiken County this year, recognizing the contributions of the workforce and support from the community. To learn more about the history and missions of site, visit the websites for SRS and the SRS Museum in Aiken.
Source: U.S. Dept. of Energy, Office of Environmental Management
