SC - Superfund Job Training Initiative, brownfield grants workshop

SOURCE: The Times and Democrat, J. Durgan

DENMARK — A workshop designed to answer residents’ questions about the Savannah River Site and programs related to the facility was held March 29 at Denmark Technical College with more than three dozen attending.

The Imani Group, a community-based, nonprofit organization, was the host for the event that was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy, EPA Region 4 and the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control.

The Rev. Brendolyn L. Jenkins, executive director of the Imani Group, said the organization focuses on environmental justice issues, criminal justice issues, grassroots organizing, youth leadership development, counseling, organizational management, diversity development, seminar/workshop development and facilitation and event development and management.

Jenkins encouraged participants to ask questions about environmental justice, the Superfund Jobs Training Initiative, involvement of other state and federal agencies at SRS and opportunities for agency grants.
Also on hand was de’Lisa Carrico of the U.S. Department of Energy.

“SRS, a nuclear reservation located on land in Aiken, Allendale and Barnwell counties adjacent to the Savannah River, ... was constructed during the early 1950s to produce the basic materials used in the fabrication of nuclear weapons, primarily tritium and plutonium-239, in support of our nation’s defense programs,” Carrico said.

He said five reactors were built to produce the materials as well as two chemical separations plants, a heavy water extraction plant, a nuclear fuel and target fabrication facility, a tritium extraction facility and waste management facilities. The site employed more than 10,000 at one time.

“The site was built to refine nuclear materials for deployment in nuclear weapons. It covers 310 square miles ... It is owned by the U.S. Department of Energy. The management and operating contract is held by Savannah River Nuclear Solutions LLC, and the Liquid Waste Operations contract is held by Savannah River Remediation, a team of companies led by the URS Corporation,” Carrico said.

MORE