AIKEN, S.C. – The Principal Deputy Administrator for the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Scott Pappano, toured the Savannah River Site (SRS) for the first time last week, seeing first-hand the role the Site plays in national security.
Pappano began his visit by meeting with Site leadership from both NNSA Savannah River Field Office and Savannah River Nuclear Solutions (SRNS), the managing and operating contractor for the Site. He then addressed federal site employees at an All-Hands meeting, saying, “There is a lot of work going on here at Savannah River to support our defensive and offensive deterrence missions. And you’re doing both of those things here onsite. In these uncertain times, the most stabilizing thing we can do is deliver strategic deterrence, which is why you and the rest of the labs, plants and sites in the Nuclear Security Enterprise play such a critical role. Thank you for your service in support of these missions, which is fundamentally the most important thing that we do. Keep doing great things.”
From there, Pappano toured the Savannah River Plutonium Processing Facility (SRPPF) and the High-Fidelity Training and Operations Center. The SRPPF project has made significant progress in repurposing an existing structure and support facilities to establish an enduring pit production mission at SRS. A key takeaway was the need for urgency and the high priority placed by SRS leadership on the pit production mission.
“We were honored to show the Principal Deputy Administrator the incredible amount of work being performed by our dedicated and committed employees,” said SRNS President and CEO Jeff Griffin. “As a proud member of the Nuclear Security Enterprise, SRNS is committed to supporting our national defense through these vital missions.”
Following SRPPF, Pappano visited the Savannah River Tritium Enterprise processing facilities to gain a more thorough understanding of the role these facilities play in supplying tritium, an essential component for maintaining the U.S. nuclear deterrent. His tour concluded with a visit to the K Area Complex, which provides handling, processing and interim storage for much of the Department of Energy’s excess plutonium and other special nuclear materials.
“Thank you to the Principal Deputy Administrator for visiting SRS and allowing us to demonstrate the Site’s mission-critical work as part of the nation’s nuclear enterprise,” said NNSA Savannah River Field Office Manager Michael Mikolanis. “SRS is uniquely situated to advance NNSA’s mission of sustaining the U.S. nuclear deterrent, and its employees stand ready to meet the needs of the nation with urgency.”
Established by Congress in 2000, NNSA is a semi-autonomous agency within the U.S. Department of Energy responsible for enhancing national security through the military application of nuclear science. NNSA maintains and enhances the safety, security, and effectiveness of the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile; works to reduce the global danger from weapons of mass destruction; provides the U.S. Navy with safe and militarily effective nuclear propulsion; and responds to nuclear and radiological emergencies in the U.S. and abroad.
Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, a Fluor and HII partnership company, is responsible for the management and operations of the Department of Energy’s Savannah River Site, located near Aiken, South Carolina.
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