To: Members of the SRS Citizens Advisory Board & the Public
From: Tom Clements, Director, Savannah River Site Watch
Re: Update on DOE plan to import highly radioactive spent fuel from Germany
In a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI),
SRS Watch News
DOE Dealt Set-back in Court Challenge by Public-Interest Groups of Effort to Fabricate Plutonium Pits (Triggers) for New Nuclear Warheads, Part of Planning for Full-Scale Nuclear War
District Court Denies Department of Energy’s Motion to Dismiss Plutonium Pits Suit
Aiken, SC — In a win for public participation and environmental protection, the United States District Court of South Carolina denied the Department of Energy’s motion to dismiss a 2021 legal action filed by multiple citizen groups.
Secret Cost Estimate Revealed for SRS Plutonium Bomb Plant – Cost of $16.5 Billion Hidden from Public, Underscoring Lack of Openness
Document withheld from Public Reveals DOE Cost Estimate for Plutonium Pit Project at Savannah River Site Hits $16.5 Billion, Over $5 Billion Higher than Current Public Estimate
A key U.S.
Plutonium Pondering: How much SRS plutonium has gone to WIPP? How much plutonium does DOE plan to ship to WIPP? 66 Metric Tons?!
Plutonium Pondering
The Department of Energy must fully reveal how much surplus plutonium it has already sent from the Savannah River Site (SRS) and other DOE sites to the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP).
Plans to Export German Spent Nuclear Fuel to the Savannah River Site for Processing & Dumping have been Terminated
U.S. DOE Plans to Export German Spent Nuclear Fuel to the Savannah River Site for Processing & Dumping have been Terminated after 10 Years, Yielding Good Outcome for South Carolina
Unsuccessful Effort to Illegally Export Spent Fuel from Germany to SRS Ends in Environmental Victory,
SRS Watch Files more FOIA Requests for MOX “Lessons Learned” and Contractor Performance Reviews
More FOIAs filed by SRS Watch – for MOX lessons learned & NNSA performance reviews
A second Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request has been filed by SRS Watch for “lesson learned”
SRS Watch Rocks Against SRS Plutonium Bomb Plant, at Bonnie Raitt Concert in Savannah
On November 11, 2022, SRS Watch was invited to have an information table at the Bonnie Raitt concert in Savannah, Georgia, one of our favorite venues. To the backdrop of great music –
Time again to rock against new nuclear weapons production at the Savannah River Site!
SRS Watch will be tabling on November 11, 2022 at Johnny Mercer Theater in Savannah,
DOE Official Reveals Costly 6-Month Delay in Proposed SRS Plutonium Bomb Plant (PBP); As Russia, U.S. Threaten Nuclear War the $11.5+ Billion SRS Pit Plant Key to New U.S. Nuclear Weapons and Irresponsible Planning for Full-Scale Nuclear War
DOE Official Heightens Concerns about Controversial Plutonium Bomb Plant at Savannah River Site by Admitting an Additional 6-Month Delay in the Project; Cost Could Jump $375 Million,
Still Building Bombs in South Carolina – Heart of the For-Profit Nuclear Weapons Industry
Key activities in South Carolina keep the state at the heart of the nuclear weapons arms race.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission Issues Environmental Impact Statement on Westinghouse Nuclear Fuel Plant, Fails to Justify 40-Year Operating License Extension for Troubled Facility
Nuclear Regulatory Commission Issues Environmental Impact Statement on Westinghouse Nuclear Fuel Plant, Fails to Justify 40-Year Operating License Extension for Troubled Facility
Columbia,
DOE Faces Amended Complaint in Federal Court over Inadequate Environmental Review of Plutonium Pit Production (for New Nuclear Weapons), at SRS and Los Alamos and other DOE Sites
Lawyers for three public interest groups, at the request of the federal judge in the case, filed an amended complaint on July 11, 2022 against DOE’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) over its plans to expand plutonium pit production for new nuclear weapons..
SRS Watch to Table at Bonnie Raitt Concerts, June 1 & 4, 2022, to Gather Letters Against Proposed SRS Plutonium Bomb Plant
Savannah River Site Watch is excited as we have been asked to have informational tables at the Bonnie Raitt/Lucinda Williams concerts in Charlotte, NC on June 1, 2022 and in Columbia,
Nuclear Weapons Funding Request for DOE, Savannah River Site Takes a Huge Leap in Support of Dangerous, Enduring U.S. Plans to Fight a Full-Scale Nuclear War
SRS Watch news, April 23, 2022: Nuclear Weapons Funding Request for Savannah River Site Takes a Huge Leap in Support of Dangerous, Enduring U.S. Plans to Fight a Full-Scale Nuclear War
SRS to Take a Larger Role in Nuclear Weapons Activities as Funding for SRS Plutonium Bomb Plant Spirals Out of Control,
DOE Dragging its Feet in Responding to SRS Watch FOIA Request for MOX “Lessons Learned” Documents & Reports
DOE is dragging its feet in providing “lessons learned” documents on the plutonium fuel (MOX) debacle.
Once again, DOE’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) hasn’t provided documents,
DOE-Germany Cooperation to Dump German Highly Radioactive Spent Fuel at SRS Continues, Violates Nuclear Non-Proliferation Norms
US-Germany Research Cooperation over Highly Radioactive German Spent Fuel Reprocessing at DOE’s Savannah River Site Drags On, Continues to Violate Nuclear Non-Proliferation Norms
The Savannah River Operations Office has responded to a Freedom of information Act (FOIA) request from Savannah River Site Watch (SRS Watch) pertaining to the import and processing of highly radioactive German spent fuel at SRS.
DOE Oversight Board Releases Critical Assessment of SRS Plutonium Pit Plant, Raises Safety Issues
DOE Oversight Board Releases Critical Assessment of SRS Plutonium Pit Plant, Presents Safety Observations in Advance of Facility’s “Preliminary Design,” to “Ensure Adequate Protection of Public Health and Safety”
Ruling by Federal Judge on Public Interest Lawsuit on the Plutonium Pit Issue Expected Soon
Columbia,
A Big Thanks for Donations in Support of SRS Watch! Rock on!
SRS Watch appreciates the donations from the True Blue Charitable Fund and Guacamole Fund for donations to cover our operating expenses. The annual support of our work on SRS and nuclear and openness issues is of highest importance to us.
Stunning Admission by the NRC: No Review of its Regulation of Failed Plutonium Fuel (MOX) Project at SRS!
Stunning and irresponsible: the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has admitted to SRS Watch that it has failed to review its regulation of the plutonium fuel (MOX) debacle at SRS!
Details of Secretive Activities at Westinghouse Dual-Use Commercial-Military Facility Revealed in SRS Watch Report on Tritium & Nuclear Weapons
Details of Secretive Work at Westinghouse Commercial Nuclear Fuel Plant in Columbia, SC , Key to All U.S. Nuclear Weapons held by the Department of Defense, Revealed in SRS Watch Report Released Today
The Report Crossing the Line: South Carolina Nuclear Weapons Secrets Exposed,
DOE’s Ineffectual Challenge to NGO Lawsuit on Plutonium Pit Production – for New Nuclear Weapons – Elicits Strong Response
Groups Fire Back at Feds’ Move to Dismiss Plutonium Pit Lawsuit
Federal agencies continue to reject a full review of the public safety and environmental risks of producing nuclear bomb cores across multiple cross-country sites.
Profiting on Preparation for Full-Scale Nuclear War: SRS & Westinghouse – SRS Watch Fact Sheet for August 6, 2021 Hiroshima Event in Columbia, SC
Two Nuclear Weapons Facilities in South Carolina Play a Key & Intertwined Role in the Dangerous Preparation for Nuclear War: Savannah River Site (Aiken, SC) &
FOIA Requests Filed by SRS Watch for Plutonium & Pit Aging Plan, MOX Debacle Lessons-Learned Report & Funding Plan for Troubled Versatile Test Reactor (VTR)
SRS Watch files two important Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests with DOE’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) – on 1) plutonium aging and 2) lessons learned from the plutonium fuel (MOX) debacle:
#1.
Lawsuit Filed by Public Interest Groups Against Biden Administration Over Nuclear Bomb Core Production Plans at SRS, Los Alamos
Lawsuit Filed Against Biden Administration Over Nuclear Bomb Core Production Plans
Federal agencies’ refusal to review cross-country expansion of plutonium pit production violates the National Environmental Policy Act and the Administrative Procedures Act,
Advocacy Groups to Announce Legal Action on DOE’s Plans for Plutonium Bomb Plants at SRS, Los Alamos – June 29
Advocacy Groups to Announce Legal Action on DOE’s Plans for Plutonium Bomb Plants at Savannah River Site and Los Alamos National Lab – to Make Plutonium “Pits” (Cores) for New Nuclear Weapons,
DOE Admits in Fiscal Year 2022 Budget Request that Cost of SRS Plutonium Bomb Plant Soars to $11.1 Billion, but Annual Funding Levels Not Enough for Project Viability
Department of Energy Budget Roll-Out Bungled, Request for Fiscal Year 2022 Reveals Savannah River Site Plutonium Bomb Plant (PBP) Cost Soars to Staggering $11.1 Billion; SRS Plutonium Pit Project Requests $603 Million in FY22,
Alliance for Nuclear Accountability/SRS Watch: What to Look for in Nuclear Weapons and Nuclear Waste in Fiscal Year 2022 DOE Budget on May 28, 2021
WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY’S FY 2022 NUCLEAR WEAPONS AND CLEANUP BUDGET REQUEST of Friday, May 28, 2021 – Alliance for Nuclear Accountability (of which Savannah River Site Watch is a proud member)
The White House is releasing its detailed Fiscal Year 2022 budget on Friday,
Cost Estimate for SRS Plutonium Bomb Plant to Soar to $10+ Billion? Causing Trouble for Contractors and Boosters Pushing New Pit Plant and “Money Pit” ICBM “Needing” New Plutonium Pits?
Stay tuned for the release by the US DOE’s National Nuclear Security Administration of a “Critical Decsion-1” determination on the proposed SRS Plutonium Bomb Plant. CD-1 would approve the basic project design and present an update cost range.
Groups, Including SRS Watch, Notify Biden Admin of Impending Lawsuit Over Nuclear Bomb Core Plans, with First “Pits” for Provocative, Costly Ground Based Strategic Deterrent
Groups Notify Biden Admin of Impending Lawsuit Over Nuclear Bomb Core Plans
Multi-state coalition says DOE’s plans to massively expand plutonium pit production violate a major environmental law and constitutes an environmental injustice.
NRC Seeks to Dodge Environmental Law in its Review of “Centrus High-Assay Low-Enriched Uranium Demonstration Project,” Groups Request Programmatic EIS
“HALEU IN PORTSMOUTH, Ohio? Nuclear weapons and other grave risks”
Alert from Beyond Nuclear: “The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission is poised to forego a more comprehensive National Environmental Policy Act review of American Centrifuge Plant/Centrus’s scheme to generate High Assay Low Enriched Uranium in Portsmouth,