Savanah River Ecology Laboratory Closure

[Stephen Chew]

Stephen Chew

May 1, 2007 at 12:24 pm #24727

Received this shocking news from the DTWG listserve but thankfully, it looks like the situation is preventable: Dear Colleages: Many of you may be aware that the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory in Aiken, SC is in serious danger of closing at the end of May. SREL has conducted quality, independent ecological research and has been an invaluable source for environmental outreach and education for 56 years. Several scientific papers on diamondback terrapin ecology and conservation have also been produced through research at SREL. We need the support of the scientific community to send a message to Washington that SREL is too valuable a resource to allow it to close. I have attached a document that explains the impacts that SREL’s closure will have, and below is a more detailed description of the situation. We appreciate your support! SREL Research, Environmental Outreach and Education — URGENT MESSAGE SREL is currently funded through May 2007. The Department of Energy (DOE) or its equivalent has supported SREL for ecological research and environmental education for 56 years. According to written and verbal communications from DOE, the funds have been budgeted and are actually at the Savannah River Site to continue the program, but the funds have not been released. If funding is not continued immediately, all SREL presentations to regional schools, libraries, garden clubs, civic groups, and other organizations will end in May, as will funding for SREL research and student training programs on the SRS. The independent, oversight studies SREL conducts and publishes on radiation effects, chemical releases, and environmental health will also be terminated at the end of May. All citizens, especially parents, teachers, and children, who want to urge DOE to release the funding should contact individuals who could make this happen. The more people who express their concern about why DOE would discontinue funding an environmental program that has benefited people of the Aiken-Augusta area and the entire country for more than half a century, the more likely it is that action will be taken. If you are concerned about this development, you may contact the individuals listed below, write letters to newspapers, or inform anyone else you think should know. One suggestion is to write a short letter that you can email, surface mail, and also fax. Then make a telephone call. Jeffrey M. Allison Manager, Savannah River Operations Office Savannah River Site Aiken, SC 29801 Phone: (803) 952-6337 Fax: (803) 952-8144 e-mail: jeffrey.allison@… Representative Gresham Barrett Aiken Office 233 Pendleton Street, NW Aiken, SC 29801 P: 803-649-5571 F: 803-648-9038 For email go to http://www.barrett.house.gov/ and click Contact Gresham Senator Lindsey Graham Midlands Regional Office 508 Hampton Street, Suite 202 Columbia, South Carolina 29201 (803) 933-0112 phone For email go to http://lgraham.senate.gov/index.cfm?mode=contact and click on e-mail Representative John Barrow 699 Broad Street, Suite 1200 Augusta, GA 30901 P: 706 722-4494 Toll free: 800 890-6236 F: 706 722-4496 For email go to http://barrow.house.gov/ and click Contact John Samuel W. Bodman Secretary of Energy Forrestal Building, U.S. Department of Energy 1000 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20585 Phone: (202) 586-6210 If you do not live around Aiken or Augusta, to find a congressman/woman: http://www.house.gov/ To find a senator: http://www.senate.gov/index.htm For those who live in/near Aiken: http://www.barrett.house.gov/ or http://joewilson.house.gov/ http://lgraham.senate.gov/ http://demint.senate.gov/ For those who live in/near Augusta: http://barrow.house.gov/ http://chambliss.senate.gov/public/index.cfm http://isakson.senate.gov/

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