Contractor raises concerns over Savannah River Site nuclear waste removal timeline

The contractor for the Savannah River Site, responsible for nuclear waste removal, has expressed doubts about meeting a 2037 completion date. They reported only a 50% confidence level in their timeline due to ongoing issues at key facilities. The Salt Waste Processing Facility and the Defense Waste Processing Facility have faced operational challenges. The Salt Waste Processing Facility has struggled to meet its processing goals, handling only 2 million gallons last year instead of the expected 4.5 million. Despite these setbacks, the contractor has made some progress. They have improved operations, focusing on removing radioactivity, and have successfully removed more radioactivity in the past two years than in the previous eight.