CNTA Overview

In 1991, a handful of citizens and a few companies in the Central Savannah River Area of South Carolina and Georgia banded together to form a nonprofit, grassroots organization that would be pro-nuclear and proud of it. We carry out educational programs to provide factual information about the benefits and risks of nuclear technologies and the Savannah River Site.

Our other major objective is to sensitize elected officials and the public to the need to acquire new missions for the Savannah River Site at Aiken, South Carolina, a major component of the United State's nuclear defense production complex.  CNTA advocates specific new missions that will keep SRS viable well into the 21st century.

From this small beginning, CNTA has become an organization with more than 400 individual members (and growing). Our corporate members include world-class companies such as Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, Savannah River Remediation, Babcock & Wilcox, Shaw AREVA MOX Services, the WSI-SRS Team, and others who recognize the importance of CNTA programs.

Event: 11th Annual CNTA Golf Tournament

We are expecting a great day of golf with business associates, friends, and co-workers at the annual CNTA Golf Tournament on Friday, May 10th at Houndslake Country Club in Aiken. Find details and the entry form at the 2013 CNTA Golf page. Additional slots are available for hole, team, and prize sponsors.

Congratulations to the 2012 winning team of Greg White, Jody Waddell, Greg Junio, and Dave Hepner for smashing through tough competition, leading a field of 124 golfers! And a hearty Thank You to all the players, volunteers, and sponsors!

News: 2013 High-School Essay Contest Winners

CNTA proudly announces the winners of the 2013 essay contest for high-school senior and juniors: Jenny Herbert of Lakeside High School, Golda Nguyen of Davidson Fine Arts School, Brian Reichel of Aiken High School, and Rahul Shah of Evans High School.

The winning essays and details of the competition are posted at the 2013 High-School Essay Contest page.

Event: Teacher Workshop

Citizens for Nuclear Technology Awareness and the Ruth Patrick Science Education Center, with support from the American Nuclear Society, Energy Solutions and the Aiken Rotary Club, have scheduled an Aiken County Teacher Workshop entitled "Bringing Nuclear into the Classroom." The workshop is free to the first 25 teachers who register. It is scheduled on an Aiken County Teacher Work Day, but other teachers are welcome to participate as space allows. Each participant will receive a free lunch, free materials and a certificate of participation.

The workshop will be conducted March 1, 2013 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in Room 131 at The Ruth Patrick Science Education Center at the University of South Carolina - Aiken. The registration deadline is February 26, 2013. Registration is available on the Ruth Patrick Science Education Center website.

Event: Members Mixer

It's time to thank you for your support! Join us for an evening of free food and beverages, and be sure to bring a guest. The mixer happens on February 28th (Thursday), from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., at Newberry Hall in Aiken SC.

Please call or email for reservations. "Business Casual" dress is considered normal.

Announcement: Applications Open for Robert Maher Memorial Scholarship

Citizens for Nuclear Technology Awareness (CNTA) is pleased to announce that applications are open for the 2013 Robert Maher Memorial Scholarship, sponsored by Savannah River Remediation-SRS. This $5,000 award recognizes outstanding college-level academic achievement in nuclear science or engineering. Please visit the Maher page for additional information and application form.

The award is made possible by Savannah River Remediation (SRR), the liquid waste contractor at the Savannah River Site (SRS). SRR sponsors the scholarship to honor the memory of Robert Maher, a tireless and able manager who served the SRS for 48 years prior to his death in 2002.

Announcement: SRNL Scientist Wins the CNTA Distinguished Scientist Award for 2012

The Citizens for Nuclear Technology Awareness is pleased to announce that the winner of the 2012 Fred C. Davison Distinguished Scientist Award is John A. Swegle. Dr. Swegle is a Senior Advisory Scientist with the Savannah River National Laboratory's Nonproliferation Technology Section. His focus is the impact of foreign nuclear weapons programs and nuclear proliferation on U.S. arms control and proliferation policy.

Event: CNTA Celebrates 21st Annual Edward Teller Lecture and Banquet

Citizens for Nuclear Technology Awareness celebrated its annual Teller Lecture and Banquet on December 3, 2012. The Hon. Kristine Svinicki, Commissioner, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, was the featured speaker.

Ms. Svinicki was sworn in for a second term as NRC Commissioner on June 29, 2012. She has a distinguished career as a nuclear engineer and policy advisor, working at the state and federal levels of government, and in both the legislative and executive branches.

Event: 10th Annual CNTA Golf Tournament

The weather cooperated this year, allowing us to report a very successful golf tourney, May 11th at Houndslake Country Club in Aiken. See the results at the 2012 CNTA Golf page.

Congratulations to Greg White, Jody Waddell, Greg Junio, and Dave Hepner for smashing through tough competition, leading a field of 124 golfers! And a hearty Thank You to all the sponsors and volunteers!

News: 2012 High-School Essay Contest Winners

CNTA proudly announces the winners of the 2012 essay contest for high-school senior and juniors: Stephen (Joey) Baldwin of North Augusta High School and Geyi (Helen) Xiang of Evans High School.

The winning essays and details of the competition are posted at the 2012 High-School Essay Contest page.

Announcement: The 2012 Membership Drive is Active!

CNTA has begun its 2012 Membership Drive. Please visit the Membership page for information and applications for Individual Members and Business Sponsorships.

Feature: Augusta Technical College "The Neutron": Premiere Issue

We are happy to share the first issue of the quarterly newsletter from Augusta Technical College, The Neutron: Because Nuclear Matters. Future issues will be posted in the Education section of this website when it is launched (soon!).

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Event: CNTA Celebrates 20th Annual Edward Teller Lecture and Banquet

Citizens for Nuclear Technology Awareness celebrated its annual Teller Lecture and Banquet on October 3, 2011. Stephen Kuczynski, Chairman, President, and CEO of Southern Nuclear Operating Company, was the featured speaker.

It has been more than twenty years since the last new nuclear power plant was built, and the very next ones built in the U.S. will be Units 3 & 4 at Southern Nuclear's Plant Vogtle.

Mr. Kucynski has more than 27 years of experience in the nuclear industry. Most recently he was the Senior Vice President of Exelon Nuclear Midwest Operations.Mr. Kucynski has more than 27 years of experience in the nuclear industry. Most recently he was the Senior Vice President of Exelon Nuclear Midwest Operations.

Announcement: USC Scientist Wins the CNTA Distinguished Scientist Award for 2011

The Citizens for Nuclear Technology Awareness is pleased to announce that the winner of the 2011 Fred C. Davison Distinguished Scientist Award is Dr. Travis Knight. Knight is an Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of South Carolina (USC), and a leader in the development of the University's graduate program in Nuclear Engineering. Knight's work includes modeling and simulating advanced reactors and fuel cycles, and he has collaborated with national laboratories, including the Savannah River National Laboratory, as well as the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Department of Defense.

Announcement: CNTA Awards 2011 Robert Maher Memorial Scholarship

Citizens for Nuclear Technology Awareness (CNTA) is pleased to announce that Mr. Dillon Inabinett is the winner of the 2011 Robert Maher Memoral Scholarship award. Mr. Inabinett, from Charleston SC, is a senior Mechanical Engineering student at the University of South Carolina in Columbia. He will receive a $5,000 check to help finance his continuing education.

The award is made possible by Savannah River Remediation (SRR), the liquid waste contractor at the Savannah River Site (SRS). SRR sponsors the scholarship to honor the memory of Robert Maher, a tireless and able manager who served the SRS for 48 years prior to his death in 2002.

News: 2011 High School Essay Winners

We are pleased to announce the winners of the 2011 CNTA High School Essay Contest. This year, we have three $1500 awards. There were 11 essays submitted from five high schools in two counties. Essays were submitted from nine seniors and two juniors; all of this year's winners were seniors.

Congratulations to Sierra Hovet of Evans High School -- Richard Bragg of Grovetown High School -- and Sterling Tran of Lakeside High School! A special thank you also goes out to our sponsors.

News: 9th Annual CNTA Golf Tournament

The 2011 Tournament weathered early difficulties (it's hard to putt when the hole is full of water), but the crowd patiently awaited blue skies. Draining the field was the winning team of Doug Hintze, Ron Bartholemew, Lewann Belton, and Ray Fulton. More details to come on the website and in the newsletter.

Congratulations to the winners! A hearty Thank You to all the sponsors and volunteers!

News: 20th Anniversary Slogan

The 20 year anniversary committee is pleased to announce the winners of the 20 year anniversary slogan contest. There were 20 entries in the contest. All the entries were excellent, which made selecting wining slogans very difficult. The winning entry was submitted by Bill and Lauren Wabbersen: "The path to knowledge begins with awareness". The runner-up slogan was submitted by Charles Neill: "Nuclear, the informed choice".

As the winning contributor, the Wabbersens will receive a benefactor membership for one year in the CNTA. The slogan was integrated into a banner and can be viewed at 2011 events throughout the year. As the runner-up contributor, Charles Neill will receive a sustaining membership for one year in CNTA.

The committee would like to thank all contributors for their time and effort that produced the twenty excellent entries. Your efforts demonstrate your interest and support for our organization.

Congratulations to the winners! A hearty Thank You to all the contributors for your work and support on behalf of CNTA.

Event: Blue Ribbon Commission on America's Nuclear Future

Clint Wolfe, CNTA Executive Director, provided testimony at a public meeting in January 2011 of the Blue Ribbon Commission, established by President Obama and Department of Energy Secretary Chu to help develop a safe, long-term solution to managing the Nation's used nuclear fuel and nuclear waste. This page provides links and other information related to the activities of the Commission.

Event: "The Interactive Nucleus" Relocation

With the closing of Fort Discovery in Augusta, the Interactive Nucleus display has a new home - the University of South Carolina Aiken's Ruth Patrick Science Education Center (RPSEC). The display is co-sponsored by the American Nuclear Society, Savannah River Section, CNTA, and the Southeastern Chapter of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine.

Announcement: Rickman Becomes CNTA Vice Chair

We are very pleased to announce that Wayne Rickman has accepted the position of Vice Chair for CNTA. Wayne will bring the needed balance to round out the Executive Committee and Board of Directors.

Wayne hales from Neosho MO, where he graduated from Neosho High School in 1955. He attended the U.S. Naval Academy, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1959. In 1970 he received a Master's degree in Computer Management from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey CA. During his 31 years in the Navy, he had tours on destroyers and in nuclear submarines. He commanded the USS Henry Clay (SSBN-625) and was fortunate to command the commissioning crew of the USS Michigan (SSBN-727), the second Trident submarine. After an assignment as Special Assistant to The Director, Naval Nuclear Propulsion, Department of Energy (DOE), he was selected to the Rank of Rear Admiral (LH). He then commanded the Naval Submarine Group NINE in Silverdale WA. He completed his Naval Service as Commander Training U.S. Atlantic Fleet, where he was responsible for 14 Training centers and afloat training from Rhode Island to the Panama Canal.

Upon his retirement in 1990, Wayne joined Sonalysts Inc. (a broad-based consulting company), where he became Vice President for Nuclear Operations. He consulted with the DOE on various phases of management, beginning with K-Reactor restart. This evolved into Operational Readiness Reviews (ORR) at all the major DOE sites. He also conducted training reviews throughout the DOE major facilities. He was heavily involved with DOE Headquarters in execution of Integrated Safety Management verification reviews. He also assisted in operational improvements at the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) Technical Area 55, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, and Westinghouse Hanford Company's Plutonium Finishing Plant. After 10 years with Sonalysts, he formed Rickman Group and continued with similar work assignments.

Mr. Rickman lives in Aiken with his wife Sharon and is active in community activities.

New Feature: CNTA's "Nuclear Facts" Videos

CNTA is proud to introduce a new section of the website, featuring videos and other media presentations related to our mission. Check out the new "Videos" section by clicking on the button to the left.

Event: Premiere Showing of "Displaced: The Unexpected Fallout from the Cold War"

A new feature-length film records the first recorded memories from the residents of Ellenton, Dunbarton, and surrounding towns, as these rural communities were displaced following the withdrawal of land to form the outline of the Savannah River Project (now Savannah River Site). The film premieres March 20, 2009 at 7:30 p.m. at the Etherredge Center of the University of South Carolina - Aiken. Links to the program and to the production's website are shown at the SRS Heritage Foundation page.

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