Aiken , S.C. – The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today started radioactive operations of its Glass Waste Storage Building #2 (GWSB#2) at the Savannah River Site (SRS).  This facility will safely store waste once processed into a glassified form in the Defense Waste Processing Facility (DWPF) and is the culmination of a two-year project directly managed by the Department and completed over 2 months ahead of schedule and $8 million under the total project cost.  Construction of this second storage facility was completed by the Krog Corporation, a small engineering and construction firm in Orchard Park , New York .

DOE Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Environmental Management Charles Anderson and DOE-Savannah River Operations Office Manager Jeffrey Allison led today’s ceremonial ribbon-cutting event at SRS, gathering with employees and local community leaders to watch the Shielded Canister Transporter safely move the first canister of glassified waste into the newly completed storage facility.

 “Startup of this new storage facility ahead of schedule and under budget is the premiere example of successful project management within the Department,” said Anderson .  “Today’s milestone at the Savannah River Site continues the Department’s proud tradition of safely and effectively providing quality infrastructure to achieve its environmental cleanup goals.”

For a decade, the Site’s Defense Waste Processing Facility has immobilized some of the most radioactive nuclear waste in glass, sealing it in stainless steel canisters thereby significantly reducing risk from the tank farms.  These canisters are then transferred to the Glass Waste Storage Building , providing temporary, environmentally-safe storage onsite until their permanent transfer to a repository.   The first Glass Waste Storage Building is nearing capacity and a second storage facility was required to meet DWPF’s canister production rates. 

Glass Waste Storage Building #2 was constructed to meet federal and DOE nuclear safety design requirements, ensuring protection of future facility workers, the public, and the environment.  The facility footprint is approximately 200 feet by 200 feet and includes an underground reinforced concrete vault with four storage compartments and an aboveground steel superstructure that functions as a weather cover.  The second Glass Waste Storage Building has the capacity to store 2340 canisters and, at current DWPF production rates, provide storage capabilities until 2015.

“It is a great day for the Savannah River Site.  The SRS team is to be commended for successfully moving our cleanup program one step closer to completion,” said Allison.  “We look back with pride on 10 years of safe operations of the Defense Waste Processing Facility and look forward to continued safe operations for many years to come.” 

 In March 2004, DOE awarded a small business contract to the Krog Corporation for the construction of Glass Waste Storage Building #2.  The award supported President George W. Bush’s initiative to increase the number of direct contracts awarded to small businesses.  The Krog Corporation is a small engineering and construction firm experienced in challenging construction projects.  Additionally, Parsons Infrastructure and Technology provided design services for this project.

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