The first of two studies of alternatives for the Savannah River Site's MOX program was slated for a Wednesday release. Now, "mums" the word on when the Department of Energy will release the highly-anticipated study, although many expect it to surface in the coming days.
The Mixed Oxide Fuel Fabrication Facility under construction at SRS is about 65 percent complete. The project is part of a nonproliferation agreement with Russia to dispose of 34 metric tons of weapons-grade plutonium.
Cost overruns and missed milestones have delayed MOX, pushing President Barack Obama to propose a freeze last year while officials searched for other options. The proposal was rejected, and MOX received funding for construction. However, Congress did authorize DOE to find an independent agency to head up a study for alternatives.
The Department selected Aerospace - a California nonprofit corporation that operates a federally funded research and development center, or FFRDC, in El Segundo.
The study was expected to be come out Wednesday, but has not yet been released. The Aiken Standard attempted to contact the Department of Energy and the National Nuclear Security Administration, but neither agency responded before press time.
The first part of the study will debate whether to use a Dilution and Disposal method, or continue with MOX. The second study, slated for a mid-September release, will look into other MOX alternatives, including fast reactors, immobilization in a glass form, down-blending and disposal, and deep bore hole disposal.
Both studies were requested by Congress en route to appropriating $345 million for the program in the current fiscal year. Despite the request, longtime MOX supporter Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said last month that a search for an alternative is futile.
He told DOE Secretary Ernest Moniz and other members of a senate subcommittee that the project represents the disposal of 17,000 nuclear warheads.
"That's a lot of weapons material, and the goal is to take that off the market forever and turn it into commercial-grade fuel," Graham said. "I don't believe there's a viable alternative that's cheaper or practical."
Derrek Asberry is the SRS beat reporter with the Aiken Standard. He joined the paper in June 2013. He is originally from Vidalia, Ga., and a graduate of Georgia Southern University. Follow him on Twitter @DerrekAsberry.