HomeMy WebLinkAboutIncreased Funding for the Department of Energy's Savannah River Site
Augusta Richmond GA
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RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF
INCREASED FUNDING FOR THE
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY'S SAVANNAH
RIVER SITE.
WHEREAS, the Augusta-Richmond County Commission desires to express its
deep concern regarding the revised Fiscal Year 2002 budget proposed for the Department of
Energy's Savannah River Site; and
WHEREAS, the FY 2002 budget as submitted is $159 million less than the
current FY 2001 Congressional Appropriation, which severely impacts the proposed level of the
Site's Environmental Management (EM) Programs; and
WHEREAS, Augusta has a vested interest to insure that its citizens' safety,
health, environment and quality of life are never compromised, especially pertaining to the
operations of the Savannah River Site; and
WHEREAS, the Augusta-Richmond County Commission understands and
appreciates the Site's history, its diverse missions, associated risks, and the potential impacts on
the communities of Augusta and Aiken, South Carolina; and
WHEREAS, many of the residents of Augusta are active or retired employees,
who all helped to meet production schedules for the providing of essential materials to meet
National Defense Program needs, while anlassing a safety record second to none; and
WHEREAS, recognizing that the Savannah River Site has played an instrumental
role in helping to win the Cold War, as community leaders, the Mayor and Commission of
Augusta have worked diligently to maintain the required support and funding for SRS to meet its
mission; and
WHEREAS, jobs have already been lost as a result of the budget for the
Savannah River Site having been decreased from 2.02 billion in 1990 to l.5 billion in 1999; and
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WHEREAS, the proposed FY 2002 Budget, when approved will result in an
additional 2,000 jobs lost in the Augusta and Aiken County commlmities, and will violate an
element of trust on the behalf of the Department of Energy honoring its responsibility to safely
store and treat, remediate, and dispose of waste currently at SRS, with the result of fear that our
community's safety, health, and environment will be compromised if not funded at the requested
level; and
WHEREAS, funds for construction of plutonium storage facilities have been
deleted; and
WHEREAS, funding for the shipment of solid waste (E,G, Transuranic Waste) to
off-site permanent repositories is no longer available; and
WHEREAS, some commitments associated with the Defense Nuclear Facility
Safety Board Recommendation 2000-0 1 will not be met; and
WHEREAS, the proposed budget cuts place Augusta into jeopardy;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE AUGUSTA-
RICHMOND COUNTY COMMISSION expresses its deep concern regarding the revised
Fiscal Year 2002 Budget proposed for the Department of Energy's Savannah River Site, and
urges the Congress to restore proper funding to the Savannah River Site.
Duly adopted this /~ay of May, 2001.
AUG S A,
~ "By:
~ As its Mayor
ATTEST:
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