PowerPoint Presentation

A GENERATION THAT MUST F.L.Y.Find the Leader in YouIssues on Environmental Justice and the Nuclear Industry

Wednesday, March 11, 2015Youth and Emerging Leaders SummitNational Environmental Justice ConferenceWashington, DCPresented By:Audria BrooksAquila HarrisRozlyn HumphreyCourtney Key

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WHO ARE WE?The SHARP Sisters (Sisters Honoring African Rites of Passage) is a Leadership Development Program for young ladies between the ages of 13-21We are primarily in South Carolina and Georgia, but we have affiliate chapters in Alabama, New York, North Carolina and Washington DCWe focus on leadership development, community engagement, environmental justice issues.We have been in existence since 1997 with more than 300 young ladies initiated from our program.We are encouraged and it is expected that we F.L.Y.

OUR COMMUNITY

We live in communities that border or are impacted by the Department of Energy Savannah River Site (SRS)These communities are in the CSRA (Central Savannah River Area) and are rural counties that are nearest SRS (Georgia Burke, Columbia, McDuffie, Millen and Richmond; South Carolina Aiken, Allendale, Barnwell, Edgefield and Hampton)However, SRS has an impact on all communities along the Savannah River in both Georgia and South Carolina; from the CSRA down to Savannah, GeorgiaThe racial make up 60.81% White, 35.09% African American, 0.32% Native American, 1.42% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 0.85% from other races, and 1.43% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.40% of the population.

THE NUCLEAR INDUSTRY IN OUR COMMUNITYIn Our Backyard

SRS was built in the 1950s as an atomic weapons complexThe site is approximately 300 square miles that is located on the South Carolina side of the river primarily in Allendale, Aiken and Barnwell CountiesPlutonium metal and tritium gas were produced for atomic weapons until the end of the Cold War in 1991There are many environmental contaminates still left as legacy waste at SRSGreat efforts have been made in recent years to clean-up SRS but there are still many concerns that our communities have.We recently (Feb. 2014) had an earthquake whose epicenter was in the community (New Ellenton) that is the community right outside of the fence line of SRS!

During several community meetings after the earthquake and tsunami severely damaged the Fukushima Plant in Japan, we were told not to worry about earthquakes near SRS!In fact, the CSRA is not only impacted by DOE-SRS but, also, right across the Savannah River from SRS on the Georgia side is Southern Companys Plant Voegtle, new reactors authorized by NRC (Nuclear Regulatory Commission) in 2013Approximately 70 miles away in Fairfield County SC is the V. C. Sumner Nuclear Generating Station with a new reactor also under constructionTHE NUCLEAR INDUSTRY IN OUR COMMUNITYIn Our Backyard

THE NUCLEAR INDUSTRY IN OUR COMMUNITYIn Our BackyardHOW HAVE WE BEEN IMPACTED?

POSITIVE:Excellent Careers Educational OpportunitiesInternships for College StudentSchool-to-Work Initiative for High School StudentMajor Economic Driver in the CSRASuperfund Job Training InitiativesCommunity Meetings on Environmental Justice Concerns and Issues at SRSMajor remediation efforts underway

HOW HAVE WE BEEN IMPACTED?

NEGATIVE:Distrust of the government and what communities are toldMOX facility delay that has costs millions of dollarsNo clear path for removal of legacy wastes for long term storageFear that SRS will become the dumping ground for the worlds nuclear wasteFear that a catastrophic accident might occurHealth and Safety issues that result in the communities fear

THE NUCLEAR INDUSTRY IN OUR COMMUNITYIn Our Backyard OPPORTUNITIESLong-term nuclear workforce demand is growing in the regionNearly 10,000 new workers will be needed in the next decade to support existing operations and growth in the regions nuclear industry. Retirement and new industry growth prompts this needNuclear Workforce Initiative mission:Promote nuclear career paths and enhance science, technology, engineering and mathematic (STEM) programs in coordination with existing K-12 public education curriculum requirements.Align and coordinate regional educational and training entity curricula and certification requirements to specific job skill needs of nuclear employers.Perform outreach and form collaborations to achieve regional and national support to advance the mission of the Nuclear Workforce Initiative.

(Above information from the SRS Community Reuse Organization)

WHY DO WE WANT YOU TO F.L.Y.?

Youth Leadership: Accountability and Responsibility

Environmental Justice

Climate Change

Viable educational and career opportunities

Accepting the Torch

THANK YOU!The S.H.A.R.P. SisterSisters Honoring African Rites of PassageYou Have Been Counted

Contact Us At:Post Office Box 1666Aiken, South Carolina 29802(803) 642-0057sharp@theimanigroup.org