Staff Reports
WC Monitor
12/11/2015
Savannah River Nuclear Solutions (SRNS) is looking to expedite the Savannah River Site’s environmental cleanup mission through the development of a public-private partnership. The partnership would team SRNS and the Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) with a public partner. Together, the collaborative would bring a 70,000-square-foot advanced manufacturing center to the area located 20 miles or less from SRNL.
The facility, which SRNL hopes will be constructed by June 2018, would employ about 110 workers and would be equipped with several innovations including chemistry and engineering labs, along with other technological benefits. The overall project is expected to push the site’s cleanup mission along at a faster pace, according to SRS Manager Jack Craig. "We expect SRNL to be the focal point for leveraging public and private sector resources in an innovative, collaborative approach to accelerate progress in our legacy cleanup missions while bringing scientific, manufacturing and economic innovation to the region," Craig said.
According to SRNL, the lab applies science and engineering to provide cost-effective solutions for the nation’s environmental cleanup, among other missions. The lab often provides assistance to Savannah River Remediation, the SRS liquid waste contractor, for the cleanup mission. SRNL Director Terry Michalske added that advanced manufacturing is a sign of the continuing transformation of the lab, which he says is recognized as an integrated science and technology solutions provider. "This proposed collaborative partnership will build on the growing number of advanced manufacturing partnerships we already have underway with academic and economic leaders, create new jobs in the region, and develop the future workforce," Michalske said.
Expediting the waste mission would serve South Carolina well, according to the state’s Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC). Department spokesman Jim Beasley said the state agency supports collaborations that lead to innovative and cost-effective cleanup solutions. He added that past innovations have been employed effectively in cleanup across SRS, and that the new addition would also benefit the site.
