About

In March 1996, NYSERDA and DOE issued a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for public comment which focused on evaluating closure options for the future management of facilities at the Center. During the development of the DEIS, NYSERDA perceived a need for broader public participation, above and beyond the public comments on the DEIS, to help in the development of a closure option for the Center. Forming a community advisory group seemed to be the best way to ensure that the issues and concerns of the community were understood. 

To make this a reality, NYSERDA, along with the support of DOE, initiated the formation of the West Valley Citizen Task Force. The West Valley Citizen Task Force, a 18 member advisory group, held its first meeting in late January 1997. In July 1998, the Task Force submitted its Recommendations Report, to NYSERDA and DOE, on policies, priorities, and guidelines for the clean up, closure, or long-term management of the Center. Since 1998, the Task Force has met regularly to discuss a variety of issues regarding facility closure and long-term management of the Center.

The mission of the Task Force has expanded into other areas including future site use, long-term stewardship, and regulatory issues. The group has provided several sets of comments to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission on its policy statement on the decontamination and decommissioning criteria for West Valley. The Task Force is also active in keeping the Congressional Representatives from the Western New York Region informed about the ongoing issues at the West Valley Site. 

View Citizen Task Force Membership List