New Ellenton, S.C. – The seven National Environmental Research Parks will come together at the University of Georgia’s Savannah River Ecology Laboratory Conference Center in New Ellenton, S.C. on Nov. 19-20 to discuss climate change and its impacts, data collection and coordination across sites, environmental stewardship and new ideas about public education and outreach.
SREL will be hosting the workshop for representatives from the seven NERP sites: Los Alamos (New Mexico), Hanford (Washington), Nevada, Oak Ridge (Tennessee), Fermilab (Illinois), Idaho, and Savannah River.
The first day of the workshop will involve a limited group of NERP representatives, including officials from the Savannah River Site, who will discuss research aspects at the various NERP sites. During the Friday workshop, representatives will discuss NERPs’ interaction with the public. Topics will include formulation of a Department of Energy data collection network, future NERP workshops and publications and education and outreach initiatives at NERPs.
NERPs are outdoor laboratories designated by the DOE to facilitate environmental studies on federally protected lands near DOE facilities. Research and evaluation of environmental impact at DOE sites provide valuable research data for scientists and for government and contractor decision-makers.
NERPs were originally formed to assess the environmental impact at energy and nuclear weapons sites of the Department of Energy. Over time, the goal of the NERPs has expanded to monitor human impact on the environment and to forecast environmental solutions in response to human activities at major energy facilities.
The Savannah River Ecology Laboratory is a research unit of the University of Georgia, located at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Savannah River Site in Aiken, S.C.