Springfield Journal, May 30, 2024

WEST VALLEY – The Ashford Town Board, at its May 8 meeting, heard an outreach presentation from Ray Vaughn of the West Valley Citizen Task Force outlining progress and information on the nuclear waste cleanup at the Western New York Nuclear Service Center. 

In 2023, the town of Ashford was awarded $50,000 through the Energy Communities Alliance Local Government Education and Outreach Funding grant. The funding would retain qualified experts who can analyze and explain the plans, proposals, models, assumptions, data and alternatives involved in the Probabilistic Performance Assessment that is being developed by the DOE as part of the Supplemental EIS for the West Valley Demonstration Project. This effort will be led by the West Valley Citizens Task Force with frequent reporting to the ECA and Town of Ashford. 

Vaughn presented the draft of the outreach portion of the grant to the board. Looking at the history and progress of the decommissioning, Vaughn said they are currently at the end of phase one, where some buildings will remain, along with disposal areas and the vault drying system.

Read the full article here.

EM Update, May 28, 2024 —

 U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management (EM) (https://www.energy.gov/em/office-environmental-management) crews safely removed and packaged for disposal another massive component from the Main Plant Process Building recently as part of the facility’s ongoing demolition at the West Valley Demonstration Project (WVDP) (https://www.energy.gov/em/west-valley-demonstration-project-wvdp). 

The vent washer weighed approximately 15,000 pounds and was approximately 7 feet wide, 20 feet long and more than 7 feet high. Its removal comes after EM crews successfully cleared the “Green Giant” (https://www.energy.gov/em/articles/west-valley-workers-pull-green-giant-main-plant) from the facility. Painted green decades ago, it was a system that held samples from various vessels used in former spent fuel reprocessing operations at West Valley. It weighed 1,100 pounds, with 75,000 pounds of steel and lead shield plates on the outside of it. 

“The West Valley Demonstration Project team continues to make great progress in the demolition of the Main Plant as part of our cleanup efforts,” Stephen Bousquet, EM West Valley assistant director of Project Management, said of the vent washer removal. 

Read the full article here.

Salamanca Press, May 17, 2024 —

 Mercy Flight, West Valley Fire District #1 and Bertrand Chaffee Hospital recently received checks on behalf of the West Valley Demonstration Project (WVDP). 

Presenting checks were representatives from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and CH2M HILL BWXT West Valley, LLC (CHBWV). 

These three local organizations serve as valuable resources for WVDP employees and the surrounding community. Bertrand Chaffee Hospital ($5,000) and its staff provide medical support, Mercy Flight ($5,000) provides air ambulance service and the West Valley Fire District ($80,000) volunteers provide fire and emergency services. 

“Showing our appreciation for the commitment and dedication of these organizations is a highlight of the year,” said Jennifer Dundas, DOE Assistant Director Office of Technical Services. “Together, they help us keep our employees, the public, and the environment safe when performing our cleanup mission. It is truly an asset to have trained and qualified emergency responders available to support the project.” 

Read the full article here.

Olean Times Herald, May 16, 2024 —

Crews with the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management (EM) recently met a fiscal year goal at the West Valley Demonstration Project by shipping eight containers of legacy waste each weighing up to 94,000 pounds for offsite disposal. 

The effort by EM and cleanup contractor CH2M HILL BWXT West Valley (CHBWV) involved comprehensive planning, engineered safeguards, continuous communication and teamwork. 

“The West Valley Demonstration Project team continues to use planning, teamwork and deliberate execution to complete challenging work safely,” said Stephen Bousquet, EM West Valley assistant director of Project Management. “By removing legacy wastes, we continue to position the site for future cleanup activities.” 

Read the full article here.

EM Update, May 14, 2024 —

 Crews with the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management (EM) (htps://www.energy.gov/em/office-environmental-management) recently met a fiscal year goal at the West Valley Demonstration Project (htps://www.energy.gov/em/west-valley-demonstration-project-wvdp) by shipping eight containers of legacy waste each weighing up to 94,000 pounds for offsite disposal. 

The effort by EM and cleanup contractor CH2M HILL BWXT West Valley (CHBWV) involved comprehensive planning, engineered safeguards, continuous communication and teamwork. 

“The West Valley Demonstration Project team continues to use planning, teamwork and deliberate execution to complete challenging work safely,” said Stephen Bousquet, EM West Valley assistant director of Project Management. “By removing legacy wastes, we continue to position the site for future cleanup activities.” 

Workers used a large crane to pick up and lower each container into an engineered overpack, which serves as a secondary layer of protection. They loaded the overpack containers onto trailers and transported them by truck to a local rail transload facility. There, the shipment was securely loaded onto rail cars for transportation to an approved disposal facility in Texas. 

The legacy waste was removed from the former Fuel Receiving and Storage Facility (htps://www.energy.gov/em/articles/west-valley-safely-prepares-spent-fuel-facility-eventual-demolition). The building was used from 1965 to 1972 to receive and store spent nuclear fuel before it was reprocessed to recover reusable plutonium and uranium. 

“Our team members continue to use their combined knowledge to safely and deliberately complete high risk work activities,” CHBWV Waste and Site Operations Manager Peggy Loop said. “I’m proud of their efforts, accomplishments and work they continue to do on this project.” 

This latest achievement joins a list of fiscal year goals EM crews have completed at West Valley, including the removal of old locker rooms and the original guardhouse, installation of new walkways, construction of a new access roadway between the north and south parking lots, and collection of a sample in an underground tank that stored high-level liquid waste from spent fuel reprocessing operations.