The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management office at the Savannah River Site finalized a high-level waste tank milestones agreement with state and federal regulators.
EM's field office at the Savannah River Site worked alongside state and federal regulators to finalize the agreement, which will guide the cleanup of one of the largest environmental risks in South Carolina, according to a March 28 news release.
“The No. 1 goal agreed upon by all parties is to reduce risk to the environment by removing waste and closing tanks,” Jim Folk, the assistant manager for waste deposition for the Department of Energy in the Savannah River, said in the release.
This agreement is part of the SRS Federal Facility Agreement, which provides a framework for remediation efforts at the site, including the removal and operational closure of the 16 oldest-style tanks at SRS, with all remaining 43 tanks scheduled to be closed by 2037, the release reported.
The agreement has been reviewed, negotiated and revised by DOE-Savannah River, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control and the EPA over the past few months, the release said.
“DOE will continue its ongoing positive relationship with our regulators by involving DHEC and EPA throughout each stage of the waste removal process to explain the activities undertaken, results of removal operations, challenges and next steps,” Folk added, according to the release.
Other representatives commented on the issue as well, the release said.
“Having the milestones set today allows us to focus on delivering results and executing the work that will drive our mission to completion,” Savannah River Mission Completion President and Program Manager Dave Olson said in the release. “With many facility improvements and process optimizations in place and being implemented, SRMC plans to aggressively pursue early success to meet the FFA milestones.”
Officials confirmed the cleanup of the river is a top priority for the state as it causes an environmental hazard, according to the release.
“The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control considers the high-level waste at the Savannah River Site one of the largest environmental risks in the state,” Henry Porter, DHEC’s chief of the Bureau of Land and Waste Management, said in the release. “Collaborating with the federal government to agree upon these milestones, values and goals is critical in achieving the site’s waste cleanup mission and protecting the community and environment beyond the barricades.”
EPA officials believe the project will be good for human health and are thankful for their contractors, the release reported.
“Safely remediating the radioactive liquid waste and removing the tanks from service at the Savannah River Site protects human health and the environment,” Randall Chaffins, EPA Region 4 acting director for the Superfund and Emergency Management Division, said in the release. “EPA is appreciative of the mutually beneficial partnership with DOE and its contractors.”
