Savannah River Site (SRS)

[Rennhack]

Don't forget to vote.  Keep your comments civil.

[Camella Black]

My best advice to anyone that is willing to drive a few miles to work is to steer clear of the downtown Aiken area. Although a nice place, the rates are high as it is a growing college/senior area.

If you scout out the local papers you can find reasonable rentals in the outlaying areas such as Barnwell, Williston, and North Augusta areas.

[Camella Black]

If anyone has a favorite hang out, place to shop, or local information for this area please post it here.

[hezabear]

  My sisters Camella Blacks best cook in the world. If you know her or Henry then you have to know how well she cooks. I always new my Mother and Gradndmothers could cook along with my Dad,But she took what she learned from them and what a cook. What ever she cooks if you put it on your head your tongue would slap your brains out trying to get to it. Brad

[Camella Black]

  Thanks Brad, I wonder if there are any techs still out there that have eaten at our house. I remember way back when we all used to get together especially in Connecticut with Uncle Billy and some of the others. I miss those days, having a house full of techs to cook for.

[feathersmoke]

 The best bar-b-que in the US is in New Ellenton, SC at either Dukes Barbeque or at Carolina Barbeque.  They use mustard-based barbeque sauce...it takes a couple of times to get used to, but after that, you will be hooked.  It is pulled-pork, but don't forget the hash and rice!  If you want extra side items to choose from, go to Dukes.  They have a buffet of vegetables to select from along with the barbeque and banana pudding.

[Radcat069]

SRS is my first foray itno the DOE world after 20 something commercial years.
For a while I felt like I had fell down the rabbit hole and my name should be Alice. It took awhile to get used to seeing the stuff you see here!!!!!!!!
Anybody remember all the lines to the roadtech poem "I've been to Maine Spokane, seen a goat roping, smoked dope, chewed rope, fit for 2 welders and welded for 2 fitters(Can't remember the rest) but endS - BUT I AIN'T NEVER SEEN NO S*** LIKE THIS!!!

[MOONLIGHTER6]

Contracts ending, lay-offs, pay reductions, I'll let you know when it changes but don't hold your breath  -  no opportunities available !!

[snowman]

It's almost divided 50/50 to living in Aiken or Augusta, GA.  Aiken is closer, Augusta has more restaurants and shopping.  Either way, they're both dirt cheap places to live.  Mobile home parks accept RV'ers with welcome arms. You can drive into the area sight unseen and be unpacking by lunch.  Would'nt recommend it though, phasing out rental techs.  Spent four years at SRS and no the area well.

[Camella Black]

I have been meaning to tell ya'll about Miller's Bread Basket in Blackville, SC. It is about a 40 minute drive from Aiken, but well worth the wait. Serving Mennonite and Southern cooking it draws diners from all around the US. They have been written up in South Living Magazine and others. It is run by Ray Miller.

Try the meatloaf with tomato gravy, and ask for the butternut bread. Wonderful, mouth watering food, great prices.

[Camella Black]

I have heard through the grapevine that ACTS, is hiring RCT's for SRS you may want to check them out. As far as the area I live in Snelling which borders SRS on the Barnwell County side and can tell you just about anything you'd want to know.

Housing is plentiful here in our area both in Aiken County and Barnwell County, it just depends if you want small town living or mid-town living, what type of taxes you want to pay etc. I personally would not trade living in Barnwell County for the bigger area of Aiken as I can have my cake and eat it too, it's only a 35 minute drive to Aiken or 45 minute drive to Augusta from here.

Golf courses can be found all over our area, both in Barnwell County and Aiken County. As I stated in an earlier post, Aiken has a large college/senior citizen ratio which can drive their prices up.

Another option is to look at Evans GA just outside of Augusta, beautiful small city, with lots of housing, and Strom Thurmond Lake is a recreational dream.

Good luck.

[alphadude]

You may want to consider Oak Ridge. There are several major reasons that Oak is attractive.. no state taxes on the pay check being the main one. Carolina and Ga. taxes seem to run high for payroll. Tenn. property taxes are lower also. Oak Ridge has a high standard of living however bargins can be had just north of the area on the cumberland plateau.( i got 6 acres of river front next to national park for $30K) The piedmont of SC tends to be a little warm in the summer, but mild in the winter. Whereas Oak Ridge has 4 distinct seasons.  SRS area is typical costal piedmont-kinda flat- while Oak has numerous valley areas with the Smokey Mts near by.  The schools in oak ridge are extremely high standard.. SC and GA schools are so so. Just depends on what you want.  SRS is kinda on the down side, with Oak becoming the center of DOE activities ( n spalation, H3, Y12, baby nuke, refurb and so on)

[illegalsmile]

can anybody tell us what's going on down there? i submitted with ACTS a couple of months ago and still haven't heard anything.

[MrHazmat]

Been here for over 15 years and Radcat069 you will see things you do not beleive until you leave this place. Some are good, but most are stupid and seem wasteful. What area you in??

[Camella Black]

You may want to consider Oak Ridge. There are several major reasons that Oak is attractive.. no state taxes on the pay check being the main one. Carolina and Ga. taxes seem to run high for payroll. Tenn. property taxes are lower also. Oak Ridge has a high standard of living however bargins can be had just north of the area on the cumberland plateau.( i got 6 acres of river front next to national park for $30K) The piedmont of SC tends to be a little warm in the summer, but mild in the winter. Whereas Oak Ridge has 4 distinct seasons.  SRS area is typical costal piedmont-kinda flat- while Oak has numerous valley areas with the Smokey Mts near by.  The schools in oak ridge are extremely high standard.. SC and GA schools are so so. Just depends on what you want.  SRS is kinda on the down side, with Oak becoming the center of DOE activities ( n spalation, H3, Y12, baby nuke, refurb and so on)

Don't forget though that Tennessee has a high sales tax to make up for the lack of other taxes. When we were there in 2004 the sales tax was over 10%. Also the no state taxes don't help you if you aren't a resident. States such as South Carolina (our home state) will tax you on your income in TN and then your up S. Creek.

[Mike McFarlin]

Don't forget though that Tennessee has a high sales tax to make up for the lack of other taxes. When we were there in 2004 the sales tax was over 10%. Also the no state taxes don't help you if you aren't a resident. States such as South Carolina (our home state) will tax you on your income in TN and then your up S. Creek.

Without a paddle.

[DecommMan]

Expect funding reductions at most DOE EM program sites unless you have a political savior.  Rocky Flats is gone, Fernald, BCL and Ashtabula gone.  All the rest will remain in Feds institutional control - so unless someone pushs them to fund it - its going to be meager in my opinion.

Case in point - the landfill at Mound thats being exhumed because Congress funded it.  Plan was to just cap and leave that if I recall correctly.

[UncaBuffalo]

Okay, question time:  Can a guy from the Pacific North-West find happiness at SRS? 

I worked one of the commercial plants in SC and got tired of getting kicked for being a 'Yankee'...heck, we weren't even a state during that war! 

Anyway, have a great offer down Carolina way, but wanted to hear how both the site and the local towns are to work/live in...

Thanks!

[Mike McFarlin]

I really think you would do well there. The people are the greatest in the world, even if we did win that war. Good luck.

[MrHazmat]

SRS, well its DOE, SO YOU KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT. The area is great, you have Aiken, if you like all the traffic, or you have several small towns around the area if you don't. There is a lot of hunting, fishing, and my favorite drag racing in the area.

[Camella Black]

Okay, question time:  Can a guy from the Pacific North-West find happiness at SRS? 

I worked one of the commercial plants in SC and got tired of getting kicked for being a 'Yankee'...heck, we weren't even a state during that war! 

Anyway, have a great offer down Carolina way, but wanted to hear how both the site and the local towns are to work/live in...

Thanks!

Believe me UncaBuffalo, there are enough Yankees here to keep the heat off of you. Though I have never worked SRS I have lived here in the area as a transplant (Florida) for almost 30 years.

Where you want to settle would depen upon what type of lifestyle you are looking for, there are numerous smaller towns in the area for quite and laid back living or you could choose Aiken, Augusta or Evans (metro Augusta) which would offer more options as far as shopping, night life and of course traffic, people, etc.

Either way, the commute is short, the weather mild and the people for the most part are upfront and friendly. You can't beat the bbq, you'll have to learn how to shag (dance), fall in love with beach music and side trips to Atlanta for Stone Mountain and Savannah to the river front are a must!!


You may want to come on down for a viist, but try to stay away during Master's week as the traffic is horrible.

[snowman]

Okay, question time:  Can a guy from the Pacific North-West find happiness at SRS? 

I worked one of the commercial plants in SC and got tired of getting kicked for being a 'Yankee'...heck, we weren't even a state during that war! 

Anyway, have a great offer down Carolina way, but wanted to hear how both the site and the local towns are to work/live in...

Thanks!

Spent about 4 years at that 'ol bomb plant' so I know a little about the site/area.

Their HP program is one of the better ones I've worked at and the best DOE site (out of 5) I've been to. I found the different SRS facilities to be very consistent in the way they implemented their infamous "5Q" manual. Go to Hanford and you can't walk across the street to a new facility without going through 6 months of re-qual. I learned a lot of new things about HP my first six months at SRS. Commercial power is skill of the craft-you guys are all Sr.HP's -you know what you're doing type mentality. SRS will be slow, methodical and very procedure/training oriented. They'll turn you loose when they are good and ready. And believe you me, you don't want to be turned loose in a couple a hundred million alpha until you're good and ready. Some people like the pace, others never get used to it. The ones that didn't like it rarely stayed long enough to get fully qualified, which was about 6 months. Hey, I'm a chameleon. Also, don't bother showing your DOE RCT Core Card, they don't accept it. It's known as the Pope rule.

As far as the area goes, hope ya like showers 'cause you'll be taking them all day long. The humidity was awful. But the people are friendly, BBQ was great, have to take in the re-enactments and the spring horse races in Aiken. Gotta see the Masters practice rounds, but forget about the actual rounds, those ttickets are sold to corporate folks for big bucks.  Most folks at SRS worked a 4x10 shift when I was there, so the traffic was heavy to Aiken and Augusta during rush hour. And, unlike a lot of DOE sites, everyone worked at the site, including DOE.

Just couldn't get used to that dang humidity, had to go west. All in all though it was a good job.

Word to the wise, though, I'm not sure how much opportunity exists anymore down there for subs. When I worked there in the mid-to late '90's, 25-30% of the HP's at SRS were contractors. I've heard most sub-contract jobs are gone. Get your offer in writing or have it on real good authority.

[elwood]

I hear rumor of a big layoff is it true???
also hear rumors of a new prime contractor, anybody any ideas

[feathersmoke]

The prime contractor (Washington Group International) recently received a contract extension until the new bid to run the site goes out and is awarded.  I believe the Request for Proposals (RFP) has been released and companies are putting together their proposals and submitting them even now.

As far as layoffs go....this is nothing new at SRS.  Happens frequently, or at least the rumors do.


And yes, go eat the bar-b-que at Dukes or Carolina -  thats the best pulled pork and hash and rice in the world!

[MrHazmat]

Yes, WGI, has an extension till 6/08. Lot of talk about a Voluntary Separation going on.