Collaboration Saves Savannah River Site $12 Million, Invigorates Regional Economy

AIKEN, S.C. – A partnership between the Savannah River Site (SRS) and a local community reuse organization has led to cost savings of nearly $12 million for taxpayers since 2013.

Personnel with EM contractor Savannah River Nuclear Solutions (SRNS) work with the Savannah River Site Community Reuse Organization (SRSCRO) to safely remove items no longer needed at the site. The property, or the proceeds from their sale, are used by the organization to support the regional workforce and economy.

“They know the people in the counties that surround SRS and the potential strengths there waiting to be tapped, and they know the region’s economic issues,” Andy Albenesius, an SRNS program manager, said of SRSCRO. “All of this combined supports their ability to strategically promote economic growth in areas that, without their help, would have seen economic loss instead of significant growth through the years.”

The list of excess items provided to SRSCRO from across the site over the years is as diverse as it is long, including railroad tracks, cranes, laboratory equipment, generators, motors, electrical transformers, industrial water pumps, excavators, tools and emergency response vehicles.

“DOE recently donated six metal buildings that can be disassembled and then reassembled elsewhere,” said Terry Schallick, an SRNS site technical representative who works closely with SRSCRO crews. “That project alone represents nearly two million dollars in cost avoidance had we used traditional means to demolish and dispose of the metal structures.”

DOE-Savannah River Organizational Property Management Officer Sam Brantley said that DOE has enjoyed a productive relationship with SRSCRO, which was designated a community reuse organization for SRS in 1996.

“We are pleased that we can often help small and disadvantaged businesses and manufacturers within the communities near SRS through the donation of our surplus items,” Brantley said. “The donations may well lead to increased demand for products and services, which often results in the creation of new jobs. The SRSCRO’s safety culture, work ethic and depth of experience continues to be impressive.”

The nonprofit organization is charged with developing and implementing a comprehensive strategy to diversify the economy around SRS.

Rick McLeod, SRSCRO president and CEO, said the organization optimizes the best use of unneeded government property through the wide variety of programs and resources provided by SRSCRO; expands existing businesses and industries through the use of those resources or the funding obtained through their sale; and recruits new companies to locate near SRS, creating economic growth to benefit area residents.

“We strive to provide leadership for the common economic interests and benefits of local residents, businesses and industries and to stabilize the economy with balanced growth throughout our multi-county service area,” McLeod said.