DOE’s Office of Environmental Management Restarts One-of-a-Kind Facility in South Carolina to Fuel America’s Nuclear Future

Restoring a unique national capability at the Savannah River Site to power America’s nuclear future and save taxpayer dollars 

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Environmental Management (EM) today announced the decision to restart HB-Line operations at the Savannah River Site (SRS) in South Carolina. Restarting HB-Line provides the capability to power America’s nuclear future by recycling surplus plutonium and partnering with industry to produce uranium-plutonium mixed oxide (MOX) fuel for advanced nuclear reactors. The facility is an integral part of H-Canyon, the only chemical separations facility of its kind in the United States.

“Restarting HB-Line is the right decision for taxpayers, for our national security and for America’s energy future,” said EM Assistant Secretary Tim Walsh. “We are restoring a unique capability that will accelerate our mission, strengthen the domestic nuclear industrial base and deliver fuel the country needs to power advanced reactors.” 

The restart decision is the first step in a multi-year restart plan. Once operational, HB-Line will accelerate EM’s plutonium disposition mission by 10 to 13 years while reducing the existing cost and saving American taxpayers up to $350 million. Restarting HB-Line also creates an opportunity to recover valuable isotopes currently available in limited quantities domestically, supporting critical needs in scientific research and commercial applications.

HB-Line is a specialized processing facility within the H-Canyon complex that has supported critical national nuclear missions. Following completion of its last mission in 2018, the facility was placed in a managed layup state, preserving its one-of-a-kind capability for future use. 

“Savannah River Site has been integral to America’s nuclear mission for more than 70 years, and HB-Line is one of the unique capabilities the site has to offer,” said Edwin Deshong, Savannah River Operations Office manager. “Our workforce has the expertise, experience and dedication to execute the mission safely and successfully.” 

The decision directly advances President Trump’s executive orders, Reinvigorating the Nuclear Industrial Base and Deploying Advanced Nuclear Reactor Technologies for National Security, which call for jumpstarting America’s nuclear industrial base to ensure national and economic security.