Area Attractions
The Savannah River Site is a big part of the CSRA. The economic impact from the jobs it creates is significant. These jobs provide for many families across the CSRA.
The Savannah River Site is a 310 square mile site and is located in the south eastern coastal area
of the United States in the state of South Carolina.
Team SRS Mission Statement
Mission: We serve the nation through safe, secure, cost-effective management of our nuclear weapons stockpile, nuclear materials, and the environment.
Vision: SRS will be a modernized DOE site, recognized for performance and excellence in support of our national security and as a responsible steward of the environment.
Values: SRS will succeed only through the individual and collective efforts of our most important resource: our people. We recognize it is imperative to shape and support a culture that values safety, security, teamwork, disciplined operations and continuous improvement – all in a cost-effective manner. We value the broad range of ideas, experience, and contributions of a diverse workforce, and are committed to excellence and ethical behavior in all we do. We also are committed to maintaining a productive work environment of mutual respect and equal opportunity where the talents and capabilities of all employees are recognized.
Historical Highlights of Savannah River Site
SRS was constructed during the early 1950s to produce the basic materials used in the fabrication of nuclear weapons, primarily tritium and plutonium-239, in support of our nation’s defense programs. If you wish to view an in-depth history, please explore SRS at fifty, our 50th anniversary book.
1950:
- E. I. duPont de Nemours and Company was asked by the Atomic Energy Commission to design, construct and manage the Savannah River Plant.
- An area for the site was chosen.
1951:
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory begins ecological studies of SRS plants and animals.
- Construction began at the site.
1952:
- Production of heavy water for site reactors begins in Heavy Water Rework Facility.
1953:
- R-Reactor, the first production reactor, goes critical.
1954:
- P-Reactor, L-Reactor, K-Reactor go critical.
- The first irradiated fuel is discharged.
- F-Canyon, a chemical separation facility, begins radioactive operations.
1955:
- C-Reactor goes critical.
- The first plutonium shipment leaves the site.
- H-Canyon, a chemical separation facility, begins radioactive operations.
1956:
- Construction of the basic plant is complete.
1963:
- Receiving Basin for Off-Site Fuels receives first shipment of off-site spent nuclear fuel.
1964:
- R-Reactor shut down.
1968:
- L-Reactor shut down for upgrades.
1971:
- K-Reactor becomes the first production reactor automatically controlled by computer.
1972:
- The site is designated as the first National Environmental Research Park.
1981:
- SRS begins environmental cleanup program.
- M-Area Settling Basin cleanup begins under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.
1982:
- Heavy Water Rework Facility closed.
1983:
- Ground is broken for construction of the Defense Waste Processing Facility.
- Wackenhut Services Incorporated begins providing security support services at SRS.
1985:
- HB-Line begins producing plutonium-238 for NASA’s deep-space exploration program.
- L-Reactor restarted and C-Reactor shut down.
- A full-scale groundwater remediation system constructed in M-Area.
1986:
- Construction of Salt stone begins.
- Construction of the Replacement Tritium Facility begins.
1987:
- duPont notifies DOE that it will not continue to operate and manage the site.
1988:
- K-, L- and P-Reactors were shut down.
- Effluent Treatment Facility begins operations to treat low-level radioactive wastewater from F- and H-Area Separations facilities.
1989:
- The site is officially included on the National Priority List and becomes regulated by EPA.
- Westinghouse Savannah River Company assumes management and operation of site facilities.
1990:
- Construction of a cooling tower for K-Reactor begins.
- Salt stone operations begin.
1991:
- Mixed Waste Management Facility: first SRS facility closed and certified under the provisions of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.
- L-Reactor shut down.
- M-Area Settling Basin closure completed.
- Cold War ends and production of nuclear materials for weapons at SRS stops.
1992:
- K-Reactor operated briefly for last time and connected to cooling tower.
- Secretary of Energy announces phase out of all uranium processing.
- Non-radioactive operations begin at the Replacement Tritium Facility.
1993:
- K-Reactor placed in cold-standby condition as Nation’s tritium source.
- Non-radioactive test runs of the Defense Waste Processing Facility begin.
- Construction begins on Consolidated Incineration Facility.
- Tritium introduced into the Replacement Tritium Facility and radioactive operations begins.
- Workforce Transition and Community Assistance begins at SRS.
1994:
- SRS Citizens Advisory Board was established.
1996:
- The Defense Waste Processing Facility introduces radioactive material into the vitrification process.
- K-Reactor placed in shutdown condition.
- F-Canyon restarts and begins stabilizing nuclear materials at SRS.
1997:
- First high-level radioactive waste tanks closed.
2000:
- K-Reactor building converted to K Area Materials Storage Facility.
- Record of Decision announced, selecting SRS as the site of new plutonium missions:
- MOX Fuel Fabrication Facility
- Pit Disassembly and Conversion Facility
- Plutonium Immobilization Facility
2002:
- F Canyon and FB Line facilities completed their last production run to process legacy materials.
2003:
- Last depleted uranium metal shipped to Envirocare of Utah.
- Receiving Basin for Offsite Fuels prepares for closure.
2004:
- Site’s research laboratory designated as a national laboratory.
2005:
- Blended low-enriched uranium from SRS used by Tennessee Valley Authority reactor to generate electricity.
- Tritium Facilities Modernization & Consolidation Project completed start-up.
2006:
- Savannah River National Laboratory designated as the Office of Environmental Management’s “Corporate Laboratory.”
- Aiken County’s new Center for Hydrogen Research opened its doors.
- F-Area deactivation work complete.
- T-Area closure complete.
2008:
- Historical markers were placed in P and R Areas commemorating the role played by P- and R-Reactor towards winning the Cold War. The site’s first two nuclear production reactors, R-Reactor began operations in 1953, P-Reactor in 1954.
Information provided by Savannah River Site
Augusta Entertainment
Augusta Opera: The mission of the Augusta Opera is to present opera and music theatre productions of the highest possible standards while encouraging growth of the art form through its educational programs and outreach. The Augusta Opera strives to create productions of the highest artistic quality bringing together nationally recognized professionals, rising young professional artists, and talented youth and adults from the community. Through this unique collaboration of artists of all levels, The Augusta Opera enhances our community’s quality of life and provides a platform for artistic development for both local and national professionals.
Fort Gordon Dinner Theatre: Our professionally staffed theatre program produces a full season of live theatrical productions to include comedy, drama, musicals’ , children’s theatre, concerts, and special events. We receive enthusiastic support from the community, and usually play to capacity audiences. Most of our theatre performances are done in dinner theatre format.
Le Chat Noir: Le Chat Noir (The Black Cat), an intimate black box theater at the site of the old Capri Cinema at Seventh and Ellis Street, is an 80-seat, off-Broadway black box theatre, cocktail lounge, & cabaret.
Imperial Theatre: Our mission is to create entertainment up close and personal by developing the Imperial Theatre as an innovative performing arts venue, presenting a wide variety of the arts with an emphasis on community diversity. Providing quality programming consistent with the theatre’s unique acoustics and historic setting; restoring and preserving the historic ambience and beauty of the Imperial Theatre facility, while ensuring patron and performer connectivity.
Maxwell Performing Arts Theatre: The Grover C. Maxwell Performing Arts Theatre is the cultural heart of the ASU campus. Students take center stage at the Maxwell Theatre. The Department of Fine Arts ensembles and the ASU Theatre events provide ample performance opportunities for students. Students, faculty, staff, and community members attend a broad variety of events. Through the Lyceum Series, the Student Activities Office presents national and international music, dance, and theatre companies. The Harry Jacobs Chamber Music Society brings a rich series of world class performers to campus and the Augusta Symphony calls the Maxwell Theatre home for its Publix Family Series.
Augusta Symphony: In its 53 years, the Augusta Symphony has dramatically grown from a “pick-up” group of fifteen musicians into an organization offering a variety of concert series serving 15 counties in two states. The full orchestra debuted on May 23, 1954 under the baton of Harry Jacobs. The following year the Masterworks concert series was introduced. Our mission is to entertain, but also to provoke and to inspire. We believe that theatre is nothing less than a cultural force that has the power to transform the lives of individuals and society at large.
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