SR 989: U.S. Department of Energy (DOE); to reinstate and fully fund radiological and water quality protections for the Savannah River and surrounding communities; urge

Senate Resolution 989

By: Senators Orrock of the 36th, Harrell of the 40th, Anderson of the 43rd, Davenport of the 17th, Mangham of the 55th and others

A RESOLUTION

Urging the United States Department of Energy (DOE) to reinstate and fully fund radiological and water quality protections for the Savannah River and surrounding communities; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, the Savannah River is an essential source of drinking water, economic activity, recreation, and natural habitat for the people of the State of Georgia; and

WHEREAS, the Savannah River Site (SRS), owned by the United States Department of Energy (DOE), lies adjacent to the Savannah River and has historically been used for production, processing, and cleanup of nuclear materials; and

WHEREAS, concerns about potential environmental and radiological impacts along the Savannah River, including downstream Georgia communities such as Burke County and Richmond County, have led to calls for independent monitoring and public engagement; and

WHEREAS, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division previously conducted a state-supported environmental monitoring program in Georgia until 2004; and

WHEREAS, the radiological and water quality monitoring work previously supported by DOE and undertaken by the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory (SREL) at the University of Georgia provided critical data, science-based context, and educational outreach to residents of Burke County, including water, soil, wildlife, and food sampling, under the Radiological Education, Monitoring, and Outreach Project (REMOP); and

WHEREAS, REMOP was designed as a community-centered project to collect environmental data, educate local residents about radionuclides and heavy metals, and synthesize existing monitoring information from multiple sources for public understanding; and

WHEREAS, REMOP activities between 2017 and 2019 included the creation of outreach materials; community talks; sampling of air, surface water, groundwater, soil, fruits, vegetables, meat, and milk; and compilation of current and historic data from DOE-SRS, Georgia EPD, South Carolina DHEC, and Plant Vogtle environmental reports; and

WHEREAS, REMOP represented an important model of partnership between an academic research institution, a community-based nonprofit, and federal agencies to increase transparency and community access to environmental data; and

WHEREAS, earlier resolutions urging for the restoration of independent monitoring in Georgia successfully advanced community monitoring activities and strengthened engagement with affected citizens; and

WHEREAS, renewed federal activities at the SRS, including proposed plutonium pit production along with ongoing water quality concerns in Burke and Richmond counties, underscore the need for robust, independent environmental protections and consistent monitoring of radioactive and chemical constituents in the Savannah River watershed.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body urge the United States Department of Energy to reinstate, fully fund, and expand comprehensive radiological and water quality protections, monitoring, and reporting along the Savannah River corridor between the Savannah River Site and Plant Vogtle, all of which should include transparent public reporting of results, coordination with state agencies and academic institutions, and meaningful engagement with affected Georgia communities. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the public and the press.