Of the final end state for decommissioning of reactors at SRS: collaboration between stakeholders, regulators, and the Federal Government - 15279

The Savannah River Site (SRS) is an 802 square-kilometer (310 square-miles) United States Department of Energy (US DOE) nuclear facility located along the Savannah River near Aiken, South Carolina. Nuclear weapons material production began in the early 1950's, utilizing five (5) production reactors. In the early 1990's all SRS production reactor operations were terminated. The first reactor closure end-state declaration was documented in a Comprehensive Environmental Response and Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) Early Action Record of Decision. The decision for the final closure of the 29,543 square-meter (318,000 square-feet) 105-P Reactor was determined to be in situ decommissioning (ISD). ISD is an acceptable and cost-effective alternative to off-site disposal for the reactor building, which will allow for consolidation of remedial action wastes generated from other cleanup activities within the P Area. ISD is considered protective by the regulators, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC), public and stakeholders as waste materials are stabilized / immobilized, and radioactivity is allowed to naturally decay, thus preventing future exposure to the environment. Stakeholder buy-in was critical in the up-front planning in order to achieve this monumental final decision. Numerous public meetings and workshops were held in two different states (covering a 321 kilometer (200-mile) radius) with stakeholder and SRS Citizens Advisory Board (CAB) participation. These meetings were conducted over an eight- month period as the end-state decision making progressed. Information provided to the public evolved from workshop to workshop as data became available and public input from the public meetings were gathered. ISD is being considered for the balance of the four (4) SRS reactors and other hardened facilities such as the chemical Separation Facilities (canyons). Closure of the SRS P Reactor Area was precedent setting and sets the stage for closure of other reactors and hardened facilities. The DOE, USEPA, and SCDHEC engaged in active, up-front, and timely involvement with the SRS. The SRS CAB, elected officials, and citizens of South Carolina and Georgia met to discuss the P reactor area closure and associated risks. Early public involvement gave SRS and the regulators assurance that the selected decision was valid and would not be overturned. Public input improved the process and ensured that the important decision on the final end-state of the reactor facilities was not made in isolation. ISD of P Reactor will provide adequate protection of human health and the environment and the lowest cost since short-term risk is minimized to remedial workers from exposure to contaminated equipment and facilities by leaving the reactor vessel in place allowing for radiological decay over time. (authors)