In recent years, work crews at the Savannah River Site in South Carolina have removed 640 tons of scrap metal and 617 tons of asbestos from the D Area, the Department of Energy’s Office of Environmental Management (EM) said last week.
Going back to the 1950s, facilities in the D Area made heavy water for nuclear reactors, EM said in an April 21 press release. Also, D Area was once home to coal-fired power generation for the site along the South Carolina-Georgia state line.
Since 2021, crews have been dismantling old structures and remediating the D Area for future development, the nuclear cleanup office said.
To help ease the way for new development, contractor Savannah River Nuclear Solutions plans to install meteorological equipment at D Area to monitor weather patterns, the DOE office said in the release.
“The collaborative work of the team has not only enhanced safety and efficiency but has also set a high standard for integrating environmental stewardship with long-term development opportunities,” DOE-Savannah River Office of Closure and Project Management Director Karen Morrow said.