Savannah River Site funding is shrinking and needs are growing.
These sentiments were shared last week in Washington, D.C., by David Jameson, the president and CEO of the Greater Aiken Chamber of Commerce, to members of the South Carolina congressional delegation and Department of Energy higher-ups.
Jameson joined about 40 other CSRA officials on the trip for what he described as very "open and frank" meetings. The group included members of the North Augusta, Augusta and Columbia County chambers in addition to city and county officials and business leaders from both sides of the river.
Jameson said it is reassuring that members of Congress and the Energy Department agree that SRS is a national treasure. He added that they expressed a commitment to waste cleanup, infrastructure reinvestment and future missions.
Officials recently learned, however, that cuts to H Canyon-related missions will total $51 million compared to fiscal year 2015. The trickle-down effect could result in the loss of about 350 jobs based on an economic-impact study conducted by the SRS Community Reuse Organization.
The study states that every $100 million that SRS loses or gains affects about 400 jobs, which is why Jameson said an uptick in funds to maintain infrastructure and work is mandatory.
"All of these require major funding that must be provided by Congress," Jameson said.
In addition, officials related to SRS, group members met with Homeland Security and cyber security leaders to better understand advantages for the CSRA as the Cyber Command relocates to Augusta.
Dr. Sandra Jordan, the chancellor of USC Aiken, said she was particularly interested in Homeland Security's Cyber Awareness and Educational programs, including possible internships in cyber security.
"These programs may be of interest and assistance to the K-12 school systems, the Ruth Patrick Science Education Center, to Aiken Technical College, as well as USC Aiken," Jordan said.
South Carolina Republican Sens. Tim Scott and Lindsey Graham were two of several legislators from the Palmetto State and Georgia with which officials met. One of the hotter topics during the visit was the site's MOX facility.
A recently conducted study priced the nation's plutonium disposition program at $51 billion from start to finish - a number that includes the $4.4 billion already spent on MOX.
Scott said the $345 million requested for MOX is not enough to make significant progress and that funding for the project also would have to increase.
"We all want to see MOX work, and I think that was one of the major points stressed during these very honest and upfront discussions," Scott said.
As far as budgetary impacts, Jameson said, it's too early in the process to tell whether funding levels will improve before a final bill reaches President Barack Obama's desk. Still, he is satisfied with the local effort of sending so many officials to D.C.
"This kind of trip is for general advocacy and it is very hard to get to nuts and bolts issues ... but it is an opportunity to exchange viewpoints and hear new information," Jameson said.
Derrek Asberry is the SRS beat reporter for the Aiken Standard and has been with the paper since June 2013. He is originally from Vidalia, Ga., and a graduate of Georgia Southern University. Follow him on Twitter @DerrekAsberry.