Savannah River Site to get funds for reprocessing facility
By
Posted 4:24PM on Tuesday, January 22, 2002
COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA - Several South Carolina leaders confirmed Tuesday that Savannah River Site will receive federal funds to begin building a $3.8 billion plutonium reprocessing facility near the Georgia border. <br>
<br>
President Bush has included the project in his budget for the coming year. <br>
<br>
The facility at the site would employ as many 500 people when it is completed, and construction could start in 2004 if Congress approves the project. <br>
<br>
The project, known as MOX, would convert plutonium into a mixed-oxide fuel for commercial power plants. It could begin processing by 2007. <br>
<br>
The program works to reduce the chance of bomb-making nuclear material falling into the hands of terrorists.
