SRS's H-Canyon will provide fuel for MOX facility

Several months after the Savannah River Site's H-Canyon facility was ordered into minimum activity and minimum staffing status by year's end, the National Nuclear Security Administration announced Monday that H-Canyon will provide plutonium oxide feed for the MOX Fuel Fabrication Facility being constructed on-site.

Through the canyon's new mission, which the NNSA's Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation will fund at $20.5 million per year in operating costs, approximately 90 jobs that may have been eliminated will be saved.

"We have material at the Savannah River Site that is a blend of enriched uranium and plutonium, and we saw that we could use H-Canyon to process that material and make it feedstock for MOX, and so we started the initiative to get the project funded by NNSA," said Department of Energy spokesperson Jim Giusti. "Because we got the work, we're going to be able to maintain the workforce at its current level at the canyon."

H-Canyon and HB Line are intended to begin preparations for production during Fiscal Year 2012 and to produce 200 kilograms of plutonium oxide in its next year, eventually reaching a production of up to 1 metric ton per year in FY 2015.

NNSA's funding of the project means that the site "can deal with some of the plutonium at the Savannah River Site that is currently stored here, and potential future receipts, and prepare them for use in MOX," Giusti said.

In February, DOE directed Savannah River Nuclear Solutions to develop a plan to flush portions of H-Canyon by March 31 and to be in minimum staffing and activity condition by Dec. 31.

Initially, it was unclear how the decreased activity at H-Canyon, the only hardened nuclear chemical separations plant still in operation in the country, would impact staffing levels. However, DOE stated that the changes to H-Canyon would be done under the 1,400-employee reduction already under way.

Because of the mission, 90 jobs will be retained that could have otherwise been eliminated.

"This allows us to maintain H-Canyon at a little higher state than we were planning in FY12 because we'll be using the canyon to complete this new mission," Giusti said.

The current workforce at H-Canyon is 400 and will increase to 490, Giusti said, once employees who were moved to other areas on-site transition back to H-Canyon and HB Line during the fiscal year.

South Carolina lawmakers, who have long voiced concerns over the decision to reduce H-Canyon's operations, praised the NNSA for the decision Monday.

"Allowing H-Canyon to produce the initial feedstock for MOX is most welcome news," Sen. Lindsey Graham said. "I'm pleased they have recognized the versatility of this unique asset. The use of H-Canyon will begin the process of converting weapons grade plutonium into nuclear fuel and setting a pathway for the material to ultimately leave South Carolina. As a longtime supporter of MOX, I believe it is the ultimate example of turning swords into plowshares.

"It should also not preclude other work from happening in the canyon. There remains room to work on spent fuel recycling and other important missions," he added.

Congressman Joe Wilson said he is pleased with the decision to use the canyon's unique capabilities.

"Because of this decision, jobs have been protected. H-Canyon is the only facility of its kind in the nation, and this is a testament to its importance," Wilson said. "For decades, the H-Canyon facility, including HB Line, has proven to be an effective and valuable asset for safely processing legacy nuclear materials."

The $4.8 billion MOX facility is to become operational by 2016.