The Savannah River Site’s liquid waste work received a slight increase in funding for fiscal 2016 in the federal omnibus budget passed last week. Liquid tank waste stabilization and disposition received nearly $555 million in appropriations, compared to the $547 million appropriated in the last fiscal year. The figure accounts for the largest single appropriation granted to SRS in its $1.21 billion budget, which is also an increase from last year’s $1.12 billion appropriation.
Congress apparently heard the outcry from SRS officials and stakeholders to up the funding levels for waste work and operations in other areas as well. Construction funding for the SRS Salt Waste Processing Facility (SWPF) increased to $194 million, nearly $60 million more than it received last year. SRS risk management operations received nearly $414 million, up from $398 million in fiscal 2015. Funding to construct the Saltstone Disposal Units also increased slightly, from $30 million in fiscal 2015 to $34.6 million in the current budget year that ends Sept. 30.
U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson (R–S.C.) said South Carolina families will benefit from the legislation. "The funding bill also provides key funding for the construction and operation of the MOX facility, gives stability to operations at the Savannah River Site, and supports the thousands of service members and their families at Fort Jackson." To Wilson’s point, the omnibus provides $340 million for construction of the SRS Mixed Oxide Fuel Fabrication Facility (MFFF). The facility is a critical component of the MOX method, the nation’s path for disposal of 34 metric tons of weapon-usable plutonium. The project is part of a longstanding agreement with Russia. Under the agreement, Russia is also obligated to dispose of the same amount of plutonium.
