An environmental group wants the U.S. Energy Department to rethink a plan to lease 2,700 acres to an economic development board working to bring new missions and jobs to Savannah River Site.

In a letter dated Sunday to Energy Secretary Steven Chu, Friends of the Earth asked that the department halt development of an environmental assessment that could lead to the land's lease to the SRS Community Reuse Organization for an energy park.

The group's primary concern is that the energy park could become another place that handles or processes nuclear waste, rather than a research center for alternative energy fuels, said Tom Clements, the group's Southeastern nuclear campaign coordinator.

In his letter, he writes that he has "documentation which reflects the final type of 'energy park' which has been envisaged" by SRS and the Office of Environmental Management. He writes it "could consist of new reactors, spent fuel storage or reprocessing."

Rick McLeod, the executive director of the Community Reuse Organization, said no decisions have been made on any specific projects at the energy park.

"We haven't even gotten the lease yet," he said. "But we do have a complete mix in what we envision for the energy park, from renewables, education and research, potential medical, everything you could think of."

Nuclear activities, he said, are by no means ruled out, but creating a landfill or permanent disposal site for nuclear waste is unlikely.

"Anything we would bring in for some kind of processing would be sent back out," he said.

Mr. McLeod noted that future projects would include opportunities for public involvement. The Community Reuse Organization's main objective, he said, is to bring jobs and economic development to the area.

Reach Rob Pavey at 868-1222, ext. 119, or rob.pavey@augustachronicle.com.