EM Update, April 23, 2024

In celebration of Earth Day, U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management (EM) West Valley Demonstration Project (WVDP) employees and contractors submited their best photos depicting the beauty and magnificence of the world for a contest. Photos fall under one of four categories: wildlife, scenery, foliage, and sustainability projects or activities. The submited photos are displayed onsite and at the Ashford Office Complex for team members to view and vote for their favorite photo. West Valley will award a trophy to the winner in each category following the voting period, which ends April 30. “This Earth Day activity helps create awareness of nature’s beauty and reinforces the importance of environmental stewardship for everyone,” said Julie Sansone, environmental engineer with CH2M HILL BWXT West Valley, EM’s cleanup contractor at West Valley. 

Additionally, students from local high schools compete in the 2024 Cataraugus County Envirothon this Wednesday with support from WVDP. The Envirothon is an outdoor, hands-on environmental competition that emphasizes teamwork while testing students’ knowledge in aquatic ecology, forestry, soils and land use, wildlife, and a current environmental issue topic, which this year is renewable energy for a sustainable future. Teams work together to complete exams at different stations, identifying various species of trees, wildlife and fish on display, and answer questions about habitat and other environmental related issues. A presentation on the current issue topic is rated as part of each team’s score. The Envirothon competition encourages student interest in the environment and reinforces the importance of protecting natural resources. Scores for the five exams are totaled, and the team with the highest cumulative total wins the competition. 

View as a webpage: htps://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDOEOEM/bulletins/396ba1f 

April 16, 2024

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) has completed the “State-Licensed Disposal Area at West Valley: 2023 Annual Report.” This report provides a summary of NYSERDA activities conducted during 2023 to monitor and maintain the SDA for the protection of public health and safety, and the environment. 

The 2023 SDA Annual Report can be downloaded from our website using the following links: State Licensed Disposal Area: 2023 Annual Report or West Valley Documents and Reports. 

If you have any questions or comments, contact Andrea Mellon at (716) 942-9960 extension 4054. 

EM Update — April 16, 2024

 WEST VALLEY, N.Y. – U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management (EM) crews safely removed a massive piece of equipment known as the “Green Giant” from a facility being demolished at the West Valley Demonstration Project (WVDP). 

Painted green decades ago, the sampler system held samples from various vessels used in former spent fuel reprocessing operations at the WVDP. It weighed 1,100 pounds, with 75,000 pounds of steel and lead shield plates on the outside of it. 

EM and workers with cleanup contractor CH2M HILL BWXT West Valley (CHBWV) removed the steel shield structure from a chemical processing cell as part of the ongoing demolition of the Main Plant Process Building. They packaged the sampler system for offsite disposal. 

“This all comes down to planning,” said Stephen Bousquet, assistant director of West Valley’s Office of Project Management. “Working as a team and utilizing feedback and lessons learned helped to make this work evolution safe, smooth and compliant. When performing challenging work, safety must remain the top priority, and that’s exactly what this team did.” 

Read the full article here.
Read a similar article from the 4/16/24 Springville Journal here.
Read a similar article from the 4/17/24 Salamanca Press here.
Read a similar article from the 4/17/24 Olean Times Herald here.

Salamanca Press — March 25, 2024

WEST VALLEY — West Valley Demonstration Project representatives from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and CH2M HILL BWXT West Valley, DOE’s prime contractor, conducted a panel discussion at this year’s Waste Management Symposia in Phoenix, Ariz. 

Held March 11-14, the Waste Management Symposia is the premier international conference for radioactive waste management and related topics. This year marked its 50th anniversary, which drew a record attendance of more than 3,300 attendees. 

Read the full article here.

Los Alamos Daily Post — March 16, 2024

 WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Environmental Management (EM) (htps://www.energy.gov/em/office-environmental-management) today released its Strategic Vision 2024-2034 (htps://www.energy.gov/em/articles/em-strategic-vision), a blueprint to the program’s anticipated cleanup achievements over the next decade. 

Built on successes achieved in recent years, the document is an update of previous editions and was developed through outreach and with feedback from regulators, tribal nations (htps://www.energy.gov/em/em-tribal-programs-indian-country), EM advisory boards (htps://www.energy.gov/em/environmental-management-advisory-board-emab), local communities and other partners. 

“The fifth iteration of the Strategic Vision charts a steady beat of progress for 2024 to 2034 at every EM site,” EM Senior Advisor William “Ike” White said. “No longer mapping out how to achieve the cleanup mission, we are now focused on successfully executing remaining work while encouraging innovation and driving continuous improvement along the way.” 

Read the full story here.