NEW ELLENTON — A denied request to extend the closure date of a Savannah River Site waste tank has been elevated to a higher-ranking committee to make the final decision.
The issue fell in line with concerns voiced Monday during an SRS Citizens Advisory Board meeting.
In August 2014, the Department of Energy requested a 15-month deadline extension from the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control for the closures of Tanks 16 and 12 at the Site, which would give DOE until Dec. 31, 2016, to complete the project.
The request was denied by SCDHEC, which led to two informal dispute resolution discussions in October and November.
The issue was sent to the Dispute Resolution Committee on Jan. 13, and SCDHEC eventually agreed to a partial extension for Tank 16. However, the resolution committee, or DRC, was charged with reaching a decision on Tank 12 by March 12. The committee could not, and according to a letter from the assistant waste disposition manager, the deadline issue has now moved further up the ladder.
James Folk, assistant waste disposition manager, wrote the letter and addressed it to three officials from the three agencies involved in the matter: Heather Toney, EPA administrator; Elizabeth Dieck, SCDHEC director of environmental affairs; and Dave Moody, DOE manager for the Site.
"The DRC was unable to reach a unanimous resolution for the remaining item under dispute, which is the operational closure milestone date for Tank 12H," Folk wrote. "The DRC hereby elevates the remaining item to the Senior Executive Committee for resolution ..."
Cleanup efforts also were a top priority during the CAB meeting.
More than 20 community members and officials of CAB shared information on what priorities they believe the Energy Department should focus on funding in fiscal year 2017.
Options include the stabilization and disposition of nuclear materials, spent nuclear fuel, solid waste and radioactive liquid waste. The list also includes safeguard and security, soil and security and Savannah River Community and regulatory support.
The CAB will vote on a final priority list to submit to DOE, but radioactive waste was consistently listed as a No. 1 priority for many, including George Snyder, CAB member.
"South Carolina has stated that the biggest environmental hazard in the state is those tanks," Snyder said.
The Energy Department has cited budgetary and technical issues as reasons for closure delays, but SCDHEC official Shelly Wilson said the issue will jeopardize deadlines for the rest of the waste tanks.
"Figuring out the technology is hard, but SRS is good at that," Wilson said. "There are things where they've had tremendous success; and we feel like if they had a sufficient budget going into fiscal year 2014, they may very well have met the schedule."
Day two of the CAB meeting will be today at the New Ellenton Community Center, 212 Pine Hill Ave. The meeting will run from 8:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.
Derrek Asberry is the SRS reporter for the Aiken Standard.