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Updates from the SRSCRO
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August 2016
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Rick McLeod @atomicasset  |
Mindy Mets @nuclearstem |
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Community Commitment Plan
Last month, we provided information about the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Final Request for Proposal (RFP) for liquid waste services at the Savannah River Site (SRS). Proposals are due by the end of this month. As reported, one stipulation in the proposal is the requirement for a Community Commitment Plan. This inclusion by DOE indicates that it values a strong community commitment from its Contractors. The Community Commitment Plan will become part of the Contract as an attachment, and the Contractor's community commitments will be part of an Executive Summary of its proposal to be released on DOE public website after award.
The Plan may include regional educational outreach programs, regional purchasing programs, and community support activities. The Contractor may also provide support and assistance to community service and reuse organizations as it deems appropriate. The Contractor will use fee dollars to pay for its community commitment actions as it deems appropriate, but actions could include in-kind support. Any and all costs to be incurred by the Contractor for community commitment actions and activities are unallowable and non-reimbursable under the contract. As part of the requirements, the Contractor shall encourage its subcontractors, at all tiers, to participate in such community activities.
We appreciate that DOE requires the new SRS Liquid Waste Contractor to develop and submit an annual Community Commitment Plan. We strongly believe the contractor should be required to be engaged and a constructive partner to the communities in our region. The ability of the contractor to be an active member and contributor to the community will be critical to the successful completion of the required cleanup work and to the sustainable economic use of the site.
As such, the SRSCRO, through its Executive Committee and recent ad hoc group of interested Board members, has developed the following guidelines as it relates to a Community Commitment Plan for the Contractor's consideration. This is only guidance from the SRSCRO, other organizations and municipalities in the region may wish to agree with these provisions or prepare their own comments or position:
* It is expected that a Community Commitment Plan (CCP) involves both financial incentives and in-kind contributions toward targeted programs and the establishment of contractor sponsored business start-ups and spin-offs for job creation in the 5-county area surrounding the Savannah River Site (SRS).
* An area-wide advisory or steering council/committee of community leaders should be part of any CCP to provide guidance and help direct resources to benefit the maximum area needs.
* Corporate citizenship donations like United Way and other local non-profit organizations or memberships in community organizations like Chamber of Commerce or strategic partnerships with professional and scientific organizations are generally expected as part of normal business operations and should not be part of any CCP but are in addition to anticipated programs under a CCP.
* Expected financial incentives is
at least 5% of the award fee each year and financial incentives should be targeted toward the maximum benefit to the local five-county area.
* Community support should be directed in these three broad targeted areas. This list is not intended to preclude other constructive community activities from being included in any CCP.
- Economic Development and Workforce Enhancement
- Outreach and Education Enrichment
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Layoff - Just Kidding
The most pressing issue Congress will face this fall is how to fund the government beyond the end of the fiscal year, Sept. 30. Since the House has passed only 5 appropriations bills and the Senate has passed only 3 of 12, members do not have time to complete the appropriations process. After a seven-week recess, the Senate will spend September and one week in October working in the nation's capital. The House will be in Washington even less, as it is out of session the entire month of October. That leaves precious little time (really only 16 legislative days) for lawmakers to pass any of the remaining items on their agenda this year.
Congress may only have time to do the one thing that lawmakers have to do each year - fund the government. In the absence of enacted appropriations, a Continuing Resolution (CR) would need to be passed to provide funding through the end of the calendar year, which could maintain funding at the existing level. It is almost assured that SRS missions are facing another CR. However, there is some debate if such a resolution should last through December, while President Barack Obama is still in office, or through March, when there will be a new president. In essence, a CR will be in place for some period of time before an omnibus bill of some type is passed.
 All of this uncertainty could create a number of unintended consequences for a number of the SRS missions. One of those consequences could be the "Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act" (WARN Act). The WARN act is a federal law which requires an employer that may have a mass layoff or plant closure to provide 60 days advance notice to its employees. But, it doesn't necessarily mean there will be layoffs, as the title to this article implies. Notices to workers could go out. But, shortly thereafter, they could be retracted if budgets or U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) contractual and program decisions are finalized.
For example, in the absence of a final decision from the DOE regarding the status of the MOX program and a clear decision from Congress on the future funding, CB&I AREVA MOX Services, LLC (the MOX contractor) may be forced by law to issuing notices that layoffs could occur to MOX workers, under the WARN Act. At the same time, DOE may provide MOX Services with the necessary documentation prior to the 60 days notification period to prevent any letters being sent to MOX workers.
While MOX may issue such notifications, they do not necessarily mean
 layoffs will occur but for most corporations taking this prudent step of issuing WARN notifications to workers that layoffs could begin in 60 days is a legal requirement. A conditional WARN notice is permitted when an employer is unsure as to whether layoffs will be necessary, so long as the notice spells out the conditional event and the occurrence or non-occurrence of the event is made clear.
So, if you hear that pending MOX layoffs are occurring, be discerning enough to determine if they are real - "or just kidding" and be mindful of the WARN Act and its layoff (or NOT) potential.
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Explore Nuclear
 The SRS Community Reuse Organization and its affiliated Nuclear Workforce Initiative are collaborating with local organizations during Nuclear Science Week 2016 to conduct activities designed to encourage awareness of nuclear technology and the many careers that are linked to this high-tech industry. During the week of October 17 - 21, 2016, events are scheduled across our region of Georgia and South Carolina and
 across the world. Local students and teachers will be able to tour facilities, attend educational events on college campuses and learn about high-tech careers from the experts. The 25th Annual Edward Teller Lecture and Banquet will be held during the week as well. Click
here to learn more about all that is happening in our region during this international celebration.
 This year marks the seventh annual celebration of
Nuclear Science Week. Since we first hosted events regionally in 2013, the annual week has become an international celebration that includes the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia. Local partners on our Regional Nuclear Science Week Committee include:
 Atkins, Augusta Technical College, Augusta University, CB&I AREVA MOX Services, Citizens for Nuclear Technology Awareness (CNTA), Ruth Patrick Science Education Center, Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, Savannah River Remediation, SCANA Corporation and Southern Company.
Nuclear Science Week has become a grass-roots community programming
 opportunity that engages thousands of people every year. The focus is on STEM learning, career interest and discernment, and information about the important positive impact that nuclear science has on the world. Whether you are interested in energy technology, global climate impact, research into new materials, energy production, medical processes, or education, Nuclear Science Week is a chance to focus on the topic of nuclear and learn more.
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Spotlight
Karyn Nixon
Karyn Nixon was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. She attended the University of Georgia where she earned a BS in Agricultural Economics and subsequently moved to New York City where she worked in Private Banking sales at Chase Manhattan Bank and developed financial marketing collateral at Sullivan & Co. She moved back to Augusta in 2002 and worked on Deke Copenhaver's campaign for Mayor in 2005,and went on to become his Executive Assistant. In 2013, Karyn accepted a position at Augusta University in their Government Relations Department as a Government Relations and Community Affairs Specialist. In her role, Karyn works closely with Fort Gordon, developing collaborative relationships with the National Security Agency and the Army Center of Excellence. She was also very instrumental in developing the Alliance for Cybersecurity Education.
Karyn has served on numerous boards including The Family Y Metro Board, The Central Savannah River Land Trust, the Augusta Warrior Project, and the Augusta Sports Council. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for Georgia Bank and Trust, the CSRA Alliance Board, the Technology Alliance of Georgia Augusta Board, is a member of the Augusta Exchange Club, and is one of the newest Board of Directors for the SRSCRO. She is a 2007 Graduate of Leadership Georgia, 2012 graduate of Leadership Augusta Executive Forum and a 2013 graduate of Leadership Columbia County, where she served as Chairman in 2016. Karyn and her husband, John, live in Augusta with their two children.
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Spotlight
Dr. Forest Mahan
A native of South Carolina, Dr. Mahan has spent more than 20 years in the South Carolina Technical College System. He began his career as a history instructor at Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College (OCTC) in January 1996 and taught introductory western civilization, American and African-American history courses. During this time, he developed some of the college's first online classes in 1999 and later taught dual enrollment courses at two high schools in the college's service area.
He joined the University of South Carolina Leadership cohort in May 2003, completing it in December 2004. While in the cohort, Dr. Mahan took on the role as Dean of Arts and Communications at OCTC.
In August 2008, he accepted the role of Vice President for Academic Affairs at Northeastern Technical College (NETC) to provide leadership for academics, the college's library, continuing education and distance learning.
Over the years, he has also been very active in the South Carolina Technical Education Association and served on its board from 2000 to 2016 in the roles of president-elect, president, past-president, and technology coordinator.
Dr. Mahan received a bachelor's degree in history from the College of Charleston, and a master's degree in history and a Ph.D. in higher educational administration from the University of South Carolina. He joins the SRSCRO as one of the most recent appointments to our Board of Directors.
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DOE Sustainability Award
The SRS Community Reuse Organization (SRSCRO) and Savannah River Site (SRS) management team have jointly received a 2016 Energy Sustainability Award, a prestigious Department of Energy (DOE) recognition. Through the SRSCRO and SRS joint partnership, surplus government-owned items and no-longer needed equipment can be sold to augment DOE missions and promote local economic development. In 2014, SRSCRO disbursed about $1 million for infrastructure improvement projects in its region.
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Closing Thoughts
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"A girl phoned me the other day and said "Come on over, there's nobody home." I went over. Nobody was home."
-- Rodney Dangerfield
"The opposite of a correct statement is a false statement. But the opposite of a profound truth may well be another profound truth."
-- Niels Bohr
"I'm not sure I want popular opinion on my side -- I've noticed those with the most opinions often have the fewest facts."
-- Bethania McKenstry
"The greatest of faults, I should say, is to be conscious of none."
-- Thomas Carlyle
"I can't understand it. I can't even understand the people who can understand it."
-- Queen Juliana
If serving is beneath you, leadership is beyond you.
-- Source Unknown
In politics stupidity is not a handicap.
- Napoleon
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| Contact Information |
SRSCRO, PO Box 696, Aiken, SC 20802
Staff:
Rick McLeod - Executive Director - 803-508-7402
Mindy Mets - NWI® Program Manager - 803-508-7403
Amy Merry - Administrative & Business Manager - 803-508-7401
Kim Saxon - Assistant Coordinator - 803-508-7656
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