Current Status Introducing Body:House Bill Number:4153 Primary Sponsor:Keyserling Committee Number:24 Type of Legislation:CR Subject:Savannah River Site K-Reactor Residing Body:House Current Committee:Invitations and Memorial Resolutions Computer Document Number:BR1/1982.AC Introduced Date:Jan 15, 1992 Last History Body:House Last History Date:Jan 15, 1992 Last History Type:Introduced, referred to Committee Scope of Legislation:Statewide All Sponsors:Keyserling Cork White Type of Legislation:Concurrent Resolution
Bill Body Date Action Description CMN
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4153 House Jan 15, 1992 Introduced, referred to 24
Committee
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TO MEMORIALIZE THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS AND THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY TO TAKE ACTION TO PREVENT THE RESTART OF THE K-REACTOR AT THE SAVANNAH RIVER SITE UNTIL THERE IS COMPLIANCE WITH CERTAIN ENVIRONMENTAL AND SAFETY REQUIREMENTS.
Whereas, changes in the international situation have reduced the immediate need for additional nuclear weapons; and
Whereas, operation of the K-reactor at the Savannah River site without a cooling tower will result in discharges of scalding water to the environment in excess of Clean Water Act standards, which discharges would destroy hundreds of acres of wetlands; and
Whereas, the United States Department of Energy is constructing a cooling tower which will enable the K-reactor to comply with the Clean Water Act and protect South Carolina's wetlands; and
Whereas, the United States Department of Energy has outlined a program of safety upgrades which will not be put in place until after a period of K-reactor operation; and
Whereas, the safety program upgrade to be implemented after restart includes testing and possible replacement of six K-reactor heat exchangers like the one which released one hundred fifty gallons of tritiated water into the Savannah River during December, 1991; and
Whereas, the United States Department of Energy has ignored its own experts' warnings about the danger of tritium spills at the Savannah River site, as stated in the United States Department of Energy study entitled "Report of the Task Group on Operation of Department of Energy Tritium Facilities"; and
Whereas, tritium releases into the Savannah River have endangered the health of citizens living downstream of the Savannah River site; and
Whereas, tritium releases into the Savannah River have caused economic harm to the individuals, businesses, and water authorities located downstream of the Savannah River site; and
Whereas, there is potential for much greater economic harm and harm to the public health in the future. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:
That the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, by this resolution, memorializes the United States Congress and the United States Department of Energy to take action to prevent the restart of the K-reactor at the Savannah River site until the new cooling tower is operative, the new safety upgrade program is operative, the Department of Energy has in place an alternative water source contingency plan which has been agreed upon by Savannah River water users, and the Department of Energy has in place a plan which will guarantee full financial restitution to individuals, businesses, and governmental jurisdictions which are financially harmed by tritium releases.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to each member of the South Carolina Congressional Delegation and the Director of the United States Department of Energy.