Fifth Annual National Cleanup Workshop

 

The Energy Communities Alliance (ECA) held the fifth annual  National Cleanup Workshop   September 10-12, 2019 at the Hilton Alexandra Mark Center in Alexandria, VA. The workshop was hosted by ECA with the cooperation of the Office of Environmental Management (EM) and the Energy Facilities Contractor Group. The National Cleanup Workshop was also the occasion to focus on the main facilities and sites managed by the Department of Energy (DOE). EM has managed 90 closure sites where cleanup and restoration have been completed. Presently, EM manages 17 active projects. 

 

Under Secretary for Science Paul Dabbar spoke at the National Cleanup Workshop and also provided the keynote address at the DOE-EM 30th anniversary celebration on September 10. He recognized the dedicated workforce of over 20,000 federal workers and contractors who are vital to our ongoing environmental and legacy management missions.

 

At the Workshop, DOE executives and site officials, industry leaders, national and local elected officials, and other stakeholders discussed the Department of Energy's progress on the cleanup of the environmental legacy of the nation's Manhattan Project and Cold War nuclear weapons program.  On a local level, SRS site managers Mike Budney (DOE-EM) and Nicole Nelson-Jean (NNSA) discussed their successes and challenges and the future of SRS. All local site contractors - SRNL, SRNS, SRR, and Parsons - were represented on various panels.

 

Rick McLeod with the SRSCRO participated as a panel speaker in the session, "30 Years of EM Cleanup: A Foundation of Success". He provided a background and history about the establishment of the Community Reuse Organizations (CRO) in the early 1990s. CROs were mandated by Congress as a DOE complex-wide organization and designated on a site-specific basis. He was also on a panel in the session "The Future of the Savannah River Site" to discuss the community perspective of having enduring missions at SRS, implications of incorporating the HLW interpretation changes, and progress and partnering toward ensuring a regional workforce for SRS and other local industry.

 

ECA Executive Director Seth Kirshenberg had the best take away from the Workshop: "In the end, it's the working relationship and partnership with communities that makes this work."

FY20 Budget Status

Current funding for the federal government will expire on September 30, meaning Congress will need to take action by then to avoid another shutdown. The earlier budget deal established top-line spending levels, but lawmakers still have to pass appropriations bills to fund the government.

 

While the House has passed 10 of its 12 annual funding bills, the Senate has not moved any at the time of this article. The delay in the Senate has led congressional leaders to acknowledge that a temporary spending patch will be necessary to allow more time for negotiations.

 

It is unlikely Congress will be able to meet the October 1 deadline, given that Senate appropriators have yet to advance any spending bills, and  appear stalled at the subcommittee-level over disagreements. Both sides remained cautiously optimistic they could put their differences aside and avoid another government shutdown.

 

All of this assumes Congress will pass most, if not all, of the fiscal 2020 spending measures in an omnibus package later this year with a Continuing Resolution (CR) to provide bridge funding until then. The House has drafted a stopgap continuing resolution that would keep the federal government funded through November 21.  The legislation was passed by the House on September 19 with a vote of 301-123. Now all eyes are on the Senate to see what they will do. 

 

A government shutdown is never good for SRS to accomplish its missions. It is always better to have a stable and adequate budget that SRS can depend on. Negotiations continue and we hope the proposed CR is indeed a short one and Congress moves quickly to full government funding or to an omnibus funding package.

Celebrate Nuclear Science Week

Nuclear Science Week, October 14 - 18, 2019, has grown into an international celebration of the important contributions resulting from nuclear science. Nuclear technology contributes to clean energy, homeland security, medical advancement, manufacturing processes and so much more. This year's Big Event will take place in Washington D.C. and will include a Millennial Nuclear Caucus with focus on bridging the gap between science and policy. Locally, the SRSCRO region is host to over 13 different events including family-friendly, educational and entertaining activities that help de-mystify nuclear science. Partners from local industry, professional organizations and education have coordinated their plans to include Savannah River Site and Plant Vogtle tours, Ruth Patrick Science Education Center programs, Atoms in the Alley Festival, STEM Career Connections ®, Edward Teller Lecture, CNTA Nuclear Blitz and more. Learn about the many local activities at CelebrateNSW.org.