University of South Carolina Aiken Hosts Governor McMaster in SRS Settlement Funds Forum
Aiken, SC (08/20/2021) — The University of South Carolina (UofSC Aiken) hosted Governor Henry McMaster in a forum on Friday morning, August 20 on the university campus.
The forum's purpose was to understand the implications of the $600M Savannah River Site (SRS) plutonium settlement funds for the region. Representatives from Aiken, Allendale, and Barnwell counties were in attendance to present the needs of their constituents to the governor for consideration. Senator Tom Young took a lead role in presenting the needs for Aiken County.
According to Young's presentation, "The settlement funds are intended to pay for the economic impact of storing plutonium and not finishing the Mixed Oxide Facility (MOX). Therefore, the settlement funds should be invested in the counties in the state that are adversely impacted by: (1) the presence of stored plutonium and (2) the federal government's failure to fulfill the MOX project promise." He requested that the funds go toward economic and workforce development, education, and infrastructure projects to benefit citizens in the affected counties.
Rick Osbon, mayor of Aiken, also spoke at the forum. In his presentation, he stated:
"After 70 years of SRS operations, Aiken County and the City of Aiken share the greatest impact and risk in South Carolina. Aiken County serves as the home of virtually all the 35 million gallons of high-level radioactive waste resulting from the production of nuclear materials such as plutonium and was the future home of the facility to disposition the plutonium material. The risk of storing plutonium rests squarely with us in this corner of the state. There is no debating that these three counties bear the burden of the decision to delay the removal of the plutonium from our community. Approximately 50 percent of the SRS workforce resides in Aiken County, and 25 percent of them call the City of Aiken home."
Congressman Joe Wilson, Representative William "Bill" Clyburn, Mayor Briton Williams (North Augusta), Chairman Gary Bunker (Aiken County Council), Gary L. Stooksbury (Aiken Electric Cooperative), Danny Black (SouthernCarolina Alliance), Chairman Harold Buckmon (Barnwell County Council), William Robinson (Allendale County Council), and Bill Kirkland (University of South Carolina Office of Economic Engagement) also took the podium to request funds.
Media Attachments
The forum's purpose was to understand the implications of the $600M Savannah River Site plutonium settlement funds for the region.
Dr. Heimmermann, chancellor at the University of South Carolina Aiken, and Governor McMaster spoke after the forum.