South Carolina’s governor has released his recommendations on how, and where, to distribute money received in the lawsuit settlement with the Savannah River Site.
Governor Henry McMaster followed recommendations made during public meetings, including one on Aug. 20 at the University of South Carolina – Aiken campus, as well as discussions with local elected leaders.
SRS straddles Aiken, Barnwell and Allendale Counties. McMaster was urged to dedicate the funds to projects, infrastructure and education in those three counties only, not distribute it across the Palmetto State.
“For over 70 years, SRS has contributed mightily to the economic prosperity of the State and to the Central Savannah River Area – while the men and women working at SRS made even greater contributions to our nation’s national security – and played a key role in winning the Cold War,” wrote Governor McMaster in a letter to Senator Thomas Alexander, president of the state senate, and Representative Jay Lucas, speaker of the state house. “It is my belief that the communities surrounding SRS should be the prime beneficiaries of these settlement funds.”
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Aiken County Administrator Clay Killian said they have to dig deeper into the governor’s recommendations.
“We will have to dig into the Governor’s recommendations a little more, but the water and sewer infrastructure money seems to be slated for four municipal systems,” he said. “We need some clarification on that, but we could use some money for some further work at the Horse Creek Wastewater Plant. We can use some of the economic development money for additional land purchases to develop another industrial park and of course the Whiskey Road project has been on our radar for years.”
That project stands to get $28.7 million.
The Aiken County School district could get $30 million to build a new Career and Technology Center. It will be built on the Aiken Technical College campus.
“We are thrilled Governor McMaster is recommending the placement of such tremendous financial resources for education in our Aiken County community, said Superintendent King Lawrence. “We look forward to continuing an amazing educational partnership with Aiken Technical College and expanding it to include a state-of-the-art career and technology center that will provide extraordinary new opportunities for our students, their families, and all Aiken County residents.
SRS Settlement Recommendations by augustapress on Scribd
During the meeting at USC-A, state Senator Tom Young (R-Aiken) recommended funds for repair of the New Savannah Bluff Lock and Dam. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers wants to remove the aging and deteriorating structure and replace it with a rock weir to allow for fish migration. Young said keeping the structure in place will protect the riverfront along Aiken County and North Augusta.
North Augusta Mayor Briton Williams agreed, “Maintaining the water level of that river and functionality of the Lock and Dam are critical for the industries in Aiken County and the city of North Augusta. We’ve already seen what will happen if the water level is lowered without the Lock and Dam. Our beautiful river became a mud flat.”
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The list of recommendations does include $20 million for that project.
Aiken County could get more than $317 million. Barwell County is slated to get $121 million, including $90 million for a new high school and career and technology center. Allendale County is in live to receive $13 million, part of which will be used to create a regional technical training center at USC Salkehatchie.
That leaves $73.5 million of the original $525 million uncommitted. McMaster wants it put in reserves for future use.
McMaster called upon the General Assembly to pass the settlement funds in a stand-alone bill to allow for the funds to be appropriated immediately upon his approval. If the General Assembly adds the settlement funds to the FY 2022/23 General Appropriations Act the money will not be available until July 1, 2022.
The settlement money, originally $600 million until $75 million was paid to the attorneys, stems from the Department of Energy’s failed mixed oxide fuel fabrication that was to be built at SRS along with the weapons grade plutonium that was brought to the state to be converted into fuel pellets for reactor fuel assemblies.
In addition to the money, the settlement calls for the Department of Energy to remove the plutonium stored at SRS. It must be removed no later than 2037.
Dana Lynn McIntyre is a Staff Reporter with The Augusta Press. You can reach her at dana@theaugustapress.com
