March 17, 2014

SAVANNAH RIVER SEEKS ADDITIONAL SALT WASTE TREATMENT CAPABILITY

By ExchangeMonitor

The Savannah River Site’s liquid waste contractor this week announced it is seeking additional salt waste treatment capabilities as part of its efforts to empty high level waste tanks on site. Contractor Savannah River Remediation released an Expression of Interest Monday “to determine interest and qualifications for development, deployment, and potential operation of a supplemental salt waste treatment capability.” The notice comes as the Salt Waste Processing Facility faces funding challenges that could potentially delay the scheduled 2015 startup by up to two years following the release a new estimate by construction contractor Parsons that increased total project costs by more than $400 million. However, SRR spokesman Dean Campbell said the notice was unrelated to any potential issues with SWPF. “There’s not a direct link. We are just looking at ways to supplement our salt waste processing,” he said.

SRR currently processes salt waste from the site’s tank farms through the Actinide Removal Process and Modular Caustic Side Solvent Extraction Unit, while the SWPF expected to eventually take over the bulk of salt waste processing work. Development of the Small Column Ion Exchange (SCIX), an in-tank supplemental processing capability expected to treat about 2.5 million gallons of salt solution per year, has been put on hold until 2015 due to funding concerns. The notice this week seeks a subcontractor that can process a minimum of 2.5 million gallons per year, starting as soon as possible and running for at least five years, and potentially through 2028. Campbell said SRR is open to a variety of technologies, which could include restart of SCIX development. SRR will hold an industry conference related to the notice on June 20 in Aiken, S.C., and responses are due July 16.

Another expression of interest put out by SRR in April to potentially dispose of low level waste off site received responses from five companies by the due date last week, Campbell said. SRR plans to evaluate those responses over the summer and develop its next steps.

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