Final EA and FONSI for the Commercial Disposal of SRS Contaminated Process Equipment DOE Staff | 7/18/23 The Department of Energy (DOE) is
notifying the public of the publication of the Finding of No Significant Impact for the Commercial Disposal of Savannah River Site Contaminated Processing Equipment (FONSI) and the availability of the Final Environmental Assessment for the Commercial Disposal of Savannah River Site Contaminated Process Equipment (Final EA) and accompanying technical evaluation. According to the Final EA and FONSI, the proposed disposal of the Savannah River Site (SRS) contaminated process equipment as low-level
radioactive waste (LLW) at a commercial disposal facility outside of the state of South Carolina would have no significant environmental impacts and does not constitute a major federal action. The accompanying waste determination concludes, based on the technical rationale, that the SRS contaminated process equipment meets DOE’s high-level radioactive waste (HLW) interpretation for disposal as LLW in accordance with its radiological characteristics, and thus can be safely disposed of in a LLW
facility outside the state of South Carolina. The contaminated process equipment
was generated during the on-site storage and treatment of tank waste. Although the equipment is safely stored on-site, the determination of a near-term disposition path will help to mitigate on-site storage constraints, improve worker safety, and support accelerated completion of the environmental cleanup mission at SRS. This is the second waste stream to be analyzed as a result of the implementation of DOE’s interpretation of the statutory definition of HLW. The first waste stream analyzed was a small amount of SRS Defense Waste Processing Facility recycle wastewater that
was safely shipped in September 2020 to the Waste Control Specialists LLC (WCS) facility, a licensed off-site commercial disposal facility located in Andrews County, Texas. In 2023, DOE intends to initiate shipments of the SRS contaminated process equipment to WCS for
disposal. DOE has determined that the disposal of this LLW at WCS meets the facility’s waste acceptance criteria and is fully protective of public health, safety, and the environment. The Final EA considers all public comments received by DOE on the Draft EA. DOE encourages interested parties to view the Final EA, FONSI, and technical documents to learn more about this decision. These documents and other information related to the HLW interpretation can be found at: https://www.energy.gov/em/high-level-radioactive-waste-hlw-interpretation.
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REGISTRATION IS OPEN!
September 11-13, 2023
Arlington, VA
Join
us for the 9th annual National Cleanup Workshop at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, VA. Register today to hear from senior DOE leaders, local government officials, and industry leaders about the future of DOE’s Environmental Management program. *Rates increase on July 1, 2023. If you have questions or are interested in sponsorship, please contact Autumn Bogus at abogus@la-inc.com. For more information, please visit cleanupworkshop.com. |
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'Oppenheimer': The Real Stars Behind the Story - The Communities ECA Staff | 7/19/23On Friday, Christopher
Nolan's biographical thriller on the man who led the team to develop the first atomic bomb, J. Robert Oppenheimer is released. The film focuses on the work of Oppenheimer \at the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) in Los Alamos, NM where both he and the Manhattan Project have imprinted their
legacy. While Hollywood and the media are focusing on LANL, two other sites were also critical to the original Manhattan Project: Oak Ridge, Tennessee, a rural area in East Tennessee and Hanford, Washington, located along the Columbia River. These three areas share much in common, such as becoming known worldwide for their contribution to the creation of the atomic bomb, being remote, and finally being home to millions of gallons of radioactive nuclear waste. Each one played a significant role in world history. LANL was established for a
singular purpose, that being to design and build an atomic bomb. The B Reactor at the Hanford Site was constructed to produce plutonium used in the Trinity Test, as well as for the atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki, Japan. Then in Oak Ridge, the
K-25 building produced uranium for the world's first nuclear weapons. Nolan's movie celebrates the man who is revered as the "father of the atomic bomb" and who changed the
course of World War II. The movie will also highlight the three communities who contributed land, resources, employees, and most of all their futures. These communities are using the movie to revisit and discuss the history and their own stories of what occurred at these sites during World War II. In April of 2022, ECA along with many asked the Secretary to reinstate Oppenheimer’s security clearance. To learn more about Dr.
Oppenheimer’s work with the Manhattan Project and the three communities that led the way for our national security mission, please visit https://www.nps.gov/mapr/index.htm. The County of Los Alamos is hosting an Oppenheimer
Festival beginning tomorrow and goes through the end of July. Their hope is to educate visitors and community members about the work the Lab does and the historical importance of the Manhattan Project to their community. ECA hopes Nolan's film sparks discourse not only on the Manhattan Project, but on the use and future of nuclear weapons and power and the cleanup of the environmental legacy of the Cold War. Today, people can visit
the three sites of the Manhattan Project in Washington, New Mexico, and in Tennessee. Use this link to find more information on the Manhattan Project National Historical Park. 'Oppenheimer' comes out internationally on July 21st. A review of the film can be accessed through this link. The Bulletin of Atomic Scientist also provide an insightful overview of Oppenheimer in this month's publication which can be accessed here. |
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The Nuclear Innovation Alliance (NIA) invites you to a Zoom webinar on Thursday, July 27, 2023 at 12:00 PM(ET) for the release of two NIA resources: UPDATED: "Advanced Nuclear Reactor Technology: A Company
Compendium," the 2023 update on a guide to 14 major advanced nuclear developers that includes information on projects, funding status, partners and more. UPDATED: "Advanced Nuclear Reactor Technology: A Primer," the 2023 update to
the NIA's guide to understanding advanced nuclear reactor technology basics. This
one-hour briefing will feature NIA Executive Director, Judi Greenwald, NIA Nuclear Innovation Analyst, Victor Ibarra, Jr, along with three special guests: Jacob DeWitte (Oklo), Mark Feltner, Sr (The Dow Chemical Company), and Archie Manoharan (Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation) for a conversation about their recent news and the debut of the updated NIA Advanced Reactor Primer and Company Compendium and new NIA Project Map. RENEWPR President, Ben Finzel will serve as moderator. The conversation will address the key elements of both documents and include time for live Q&A and discussion.
The East TN Economic Council’s (ETEC) 5th Annual Nuclear Opportunities Workshop (NOW) offers both public and private nuclear industry professionals and students a place to learn about industry developments, business opportunities, and advancements in research and technologies. With keynote speeches from U.S. Representative Chuck Fleischmann and U.S. Dept. of Energy’s Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Nuclear Energy and 7 panel discussions, this 2-day
conference is one you won’t want to miss! Register NOW and join ETEC on August
1-2, 2023 at the Hilton Knoxville Airport located in the Oak Ridge Corridor.
A controversial figure to this day, J. Robert Oppenheimer led the development and construction of the world's first atomic bomb. After World War II, his past communist leanings came to a head when his government
security clearance was revoked after several contentious hearings at the height of the "Red Scare". In this week’s episode of the Gone Fission Nuclear Report, we look ahead to Friday’s premiere of “Oppenheimer” in theaters. Our guest is Dr. Thom Mason, Oppenheimer’s modern-day successor as Director of Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico. Dr. Mason joined former lab directors in successfully advocating last year that the 1954 revocation of Dr. Oppenheimer’s security clearance be
nullified. BBC Reel: The nuclear waste 'graveyard' that will last 100,000 years Finland is on the verge of becoming the
first nation to bury spent nuclear fuel rods deep underground for the long term. Erika Benke visits the Onkalo site to find out more. |
Check out ECA's latest
report! DISPOSAL DRIVES CLEANUP: RE-ENERGIZING MOMENTUM FOR DISPOSAL SOLUTIONS FOR RADIOACTIVE WASTE
This report calls on the Department of Energy to launch the initiative to develop the actual waste disposition approaches. The Department could potentially save hundreds of billions of dollars in cleanup costs by using its available tools and implementing the report’s recommendations.
Interactive guide for communities and governments to help navigate nuclear waste cleanup The Energy Communities Alliance (ECA) recently released the Guide to Successful Environmental Cleanup, an interactive online resource that provides frequently asked questions, case studies, and recommendations regarding nuclear waste cleanup. To assist local government officials, their communities, and federal agencies in deciphering the
complexities of the environmental cleanup process, ECA developed this guide to facilitate future successful cleanups. |
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Stay Current on Activities in the DOE World Read the latest edition of the ECA Bulletin, a regular newsletter providing a detailed brief of ECA activities,
legislative news, and major events from across the DOE complex. Have suggestions for future editions? Email bulletin@energyca.org. |
Learn More about Cleanup Sites with ECA's DOE Site Profiles ECA's new site profiles detail DOE's active Environmental Management cleanup sites and national laboratories,
highlighting their history, missions, and priorities. The profiles are a key source for media, stakeholders, and the public to learn more about DOE site activities, contractors, advisory boards, and their surrounding local governments. |
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