SR989: SR989 U.S. Department of Energy (DOE); to reinstate and fully fund radiological and water quality protections for the Savannah River and surrounding communities; urge

26 LC 112 3883 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 reinstat e and fully fund1 radiological and water quality protections for the Savannah Riv er and surrounding2 communities; and for other purposes.3 WHEREAS, the Savannah River is an essential source of drinking water, economic activity,4 recreation, and natural habitat for the people of the State of Georgia; and5 WHEREAS, the Savannah River Site (SRS), owned by the United Sta tes Department of6 Energy (DOE), lies adjacent to the Savannah River and has histo rically been used for7 production, processing, and cleanup of nuclear materials; and8 WHEREAS, concerns about potential environmental and radiologica l impacts along the9 Savannah River, including downstream Georgia communities such a s Burke County and10 Richmond County, have led to calls for independent monitoring and public engagement; and11 WHEREAS, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division previous ly conducted a12 state-supported environmental monitoring program in Georgia until 2004; and13 S. R. 989 - 1 - 26 LC 112 3883 WHEREAS, the radiological and water quality monitoring work pre viously supported by14 DOE and undertaken by the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory (SREL) at the University15 of Georgia provided critical data, science-based context, and e ducational outreach to16 residents of Burke County, incl uding water, soil, wildlife, and food sampling, under the17 Radiological Education, Monitoring, and Outreach Project (REMOP); and18 WHEREAS, REMOP was designed as a community-centered project to collect19 environmental data, educate local residents about radionuclides and heavy metals, and20 synthesize existing monitoring information from multiple sources for public understanding;21 and22 WHEREAS, REMOP activities between 2017 and 2019 included the cr eation of outreach23 materials; community talks; sampling of air, surface water, gro undwater, soil, fruits,24 vegetables, meat, and milk; and compilation of current and hist oric data from DOE-SRS,25 Georgia EPD, South Carolina DHEC, and Plant Vogtle environmental reports; and26 WHEREAS, REMOP represented an important model of partnership between an academic27 research institution, a community-based nonprofit, and federal agencies to increase28 transparency and community access to environmental data; and29 WHEREAS, earlier resolutions urging for the restoration of inde pendent monitoring in30 Georgia successfully advanced community monitoring activities a nd strengthened31 engagement with affected citizens; and32 WHEREAS, renewed federal activities at the SRS, including propo sed plutonium pit33 production along with ongoing water quality concerns in Burke a nd Richmond counties,34 S. R. 989 - 2 - 26 LC 112 3883 underscore the need for robust, independent environmental prote ctions and consistent35 monitoring of radioactive and chemical constituents in the Savannah River watershed.36 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body37 urge the United States Department of Energy to reinstate, fully fund, and expand38 comprehensive radiological and water quality protections, monitoring, and reporting along39 the Savannah River corridor between the Savannah River Site and Plant Vogtle, all of which40 should include transparent public reporting of results, coordination with state agencies and41 academic institutions, and meaningful engagement with affected Georgia communities.42 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed43 to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the public and the44 press.45 S. R. 989 - 3 -