SRS Achieves Success Early With Milestones, Commitments for Fiscal Year

U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management and Savannah River Nuclear Solutions personnel visit the R Reactor Seepage Basin at the Savannah River Site as part of post-remediation maintenance. The reactor, shown in the background, was decommissioned in 2011.

AIKEN, S.C. — The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management (EM) has completed 85% of its Federal Facility Agreement milestones and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act commitments for the current fiscal year at the Savannah River Site (SRS) on or ahead of schedule.

EM contractor Savannah River Nuclear Solutions (SRNS) continues work on the remaining milestones and commitments for fiscal year 2025, which ends Sept. 30.

“The team has demonstrated exceptional dedication and efficiency in achieving 57 of its 67 critical milestones and regulatory commitments so far this fiscal year,” SRNS Area Completion Projects Manager Kelsey Holcomb said. “Their success reflects not only strong project management, but also a deep commitment to environmental stewardship and regulatory excellence.”

The Federal Facility Agreement directs the comprehensive remediation of SRS, while the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act provides a framework for managing waste.

Since 1993, EM crews have successfully achieved over 4,230 cleanup milestones and commitments at SRS — all on or ahead of schedule.

The EM crews are decommissioning excess facilities and remediating soil and water at SRS to help protect the environment for future generations. To date, they have decommissioned over 317 buildings covering more than 2.5 million square feet of land, significantly reducing the site's cleanup footprint while cutting expensive surveillance and maintenance costs. Additionally, they have closed 415 of the site's 515 waste units.

SRNS Environmental Compliance and Area Completion Projects Director Chris Bergren said he’s incredibly proud of the team for its dedication and disciplined performance.

“Their ability to consistently deliver ahead of schedule reflects the critical role they play in meeting our regulatory obligations and driving our mission forward,” Bergren said. “The work they do is foundational — not just to the success of our organization but to our broader commitment to national security and environmental protection.”

-Contributor: Fallan Flatow