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Environmental Virtual Earth Day celebration
remediation The Site continued to focus on its decades-long mission to “Restore
our Earth” this Earth Day, which was observed globally on April 22.
For decades, SRS has served as a leader in the DOE Complex in
Cleanup of former operations area environmental stewardship, including the research and development
of cutting-edge technologies that are achieving environmental
continues with demolition of buildings restoration at the Site, across the United States and abroad.
“This year’s national Earth Day theme is ‘Restore our Earth,’” which
SRNS is remediating a large section of SRS known as D Area, where speaks to the heart of SRS’ environmental mission and core value,”
heavy water was once created for now-dormant reactors, and power said Jared Wicker, SRNS Environmental Engineer and Earth Day Team
and steam produced in a huge, five-story, coal-fired powerhouse. Lead. “Earth Day reminds us that even the smallest environmentally
In 2014, SRNS began cleanup with the removal of 400,000 cubic friendly choices add up to measurable results in the ongoing effort to
yards of ashen soil from nearby pond-like basins. In total, the protect and restore our planet.”
contractor safely and cost-effectively remediated over 90 acres of Key missions at SRS that underpin the essence of Earth Day
federal property, protecting the local environment, as well as the include cleanup of legacy contamination and the deactivation and
nearby Savannah River. decommissioning of legacy facilities. SRS employees are also
The second phase, initiated and completed in 2020, required expected to conduct their work in an environmentally compliant and
returning 12 acres of acidified soil to a more neutral, environmentally responsible way and are encouraged to make personal changes and
safe condition, where enormous piles of coal once stood within a coal performance suggestions to bolster the Site’s environmental posture.
yard. Coal used to feed powerhouse boilers. The Site’s environmental programs also play a strong role in education
At project completion, the pH of the coal yard soil had changed from outreach, offering students from across the CSRA an opportunity
that of a mildly acidic cola-based soft drink (3.0), to a normal level to expand their environmental perspectives through science,
for the region (5.5). To accomplish this task, crews thoroughly mixed technology, and hands-on exploration, while shaping the environmental
1,000 tons of fine-grade limestone four feet deep throughout the yard. consciousness of future generations.
This innovative approach expedited the timeline and significantly According to Angelia Holmes, DOE Deputy Assistant Manager,
reduced costs associated with traditional cleanup methods for Infrastructure and Environmental Stewardship, “There are several
projects of similar size and scale. things we can do collectively to practice Earth Day every day. By
conserving water, reducing our consumption of single-use materials,
More recently, SRNS employees have aggressively begun another recycling, and passing on environmentally smart lessons to future
major phase with the deactivation and demolition (D&D) of the area’s generations, we all have immediate opportunities to directly improve
many vacated buildings and miscellaneous structures. the health of our environment.”
“Funding for our first D&D task order resulted in safely demolishing One important element of the global Earth Day mission is transparency.
one 12,000 square foot maintenance facility and two smaller SRS compiles and releases an Annual Environmental Report each year,
structures by an SRNS mentor-protégé small business,” said Kelsey providing local communities reliable information about environmental
Holcomb, SRNS Project Manager. “We find it rewarding to work impacts, if any, from SRS operations. The report tabulates and offers
with small businesses like CTI and Associates. Their safety record analysis of environmental samples collected from water, soil, air, fish,
is outstanding, even with extra COVID-19 protocols in place. SRNS wildlife and dairy products spanning the five-county region, and along
benefits from a talented subcontracted workforce, and CTI benefits the Savannah River to Beaufort, South Carolina.
from the SRS facility experience we share with them.”
The Site’s Earth Day 2021 video can be viewed on the SRS YouTube
According to Holcomb, the maintenance building contained offices, channel or by clicking on the video below.
locker rooms and tool storage, and areas to perform mechanical,
electrical and instrumentation maintenance. It was demolished using a
construction excavator equipped with a hydraulic grapple.
Within the next five months, five more buildings will come down to
complete the second D&D task order and forever change the skyline.
“Overall, for me, the most impressive part is the footprint reduction,
which is expected to be accomplished with the D&D of eight buildings
this year and 13 the next year,” added Holcomb.
That said, possibly the largest single challenge lies ahead with the D&D
of the D Area powerhouse, a mammoth, 66,000 square foot building,
standing 105 feet tall, which was originally capable of generating
75 million watts of power.