SRS continues to try to figure out a plant to dispose salt waste

AUGUSTA - A federal review board says there are still questions that need to be answered about how the Savannah River Site plans to dispose of highly radioactive ``salt&#39;&#39; wastes. <br> <br> The new plan would dispose of 34 million gallons of salt waste by sending it to the site&#39;s ``saltstone&#39;&#39; plant to be turned into a cement-like grout. The plan also calls for a small solvent-extraction plant to help treat the most troublesome waste. <br> <br> The Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board said it was concerned because the site had canceled a trial plant that was supposed to show how the solvent-extraction method would work. <br> <br> ``The board encourages these initiatives, but recognizes that significant impediments to the implementation of direct salt disposal remain,&#39;&#39; review board Chairman John T. Conway wrote to Assistant Energy Secretary Jessie Hill Roberson. ``The board is concerned that recent U.S. Department of Energy planning ... appears to assume the success of the direct disposal program.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> An Energy Department official at SRS said the agency would respond to the board&#39;s concerns. <br> <br> Research continues for two backup methods of treating the salt waste if solvent extraction doesn&#39;t work, said Charlie Andersen, the department&#39;s assistant manager for high-level waste at SRS.