In the News

Below are articles and other news published since the last West Valley Citizen Task Force Meeting. They relate to the West Valley Demonstration Project, nuclear waste cleanup or are otherwise relevant or of potential interest to stakeholders interested in the Project. After each Citizen Task Force Meeting, these articles are compiled into a single document and may be found with the meeting materials for that month.

WVDP partners with Olean Toys For Tots Program

Olean Times Herald, 12/17/24

WEST VALLEY — CH2M HILL BWXT West Valley (CHBWV) employees at the West Valley Demonstration Project collected more than 350 new toys for Olean Toys For Tots this holiday season.

The Olean-based program covers territory that includes all of Cattaraugus County, western Allegany County and northern McKean and Potter counties in Pennsylvania.

“We are proud to be a part of this wonderful community outreach initiative,” CHBWV President Jason Casper said. “The success of this collection site speaks volumes about the generosity and kindness of our workforce.”

Each year the program collects new, unwrapped toys and distributes those toys to economically disadvantaged children at Christmastime. Toys For Tots Coordinator Kathy Young took over the reins this year as a way to give back to her community.

“Volunteering as the coordinator is a great way to get involved in something that truly helps children and their families,” Young said. “These gifts recognize children and give them positive memories that will last a lifetime. We believe that such experiences help disadvantaged children become caring members of their community.”

In 2023, the Cattaraugus County Toys For Tots program provided 6,890 toys to 1,276 children — officials expected the number to be even greater this year.

WVDP Food Drive another success with items for over 9,000 meals collected

Salamanca Press, 12/5/24

WEST VALLEY — The workforce at the West Valley Demonstration Project (WVDP) completed its annual food drive as part of its continued commitment to the community this holiday season.

This year, the food drive collected over 9,000 meals — enough to provide turkeys, holiday items and staples for nine area food pantries.

“This annual tradition began in 1989 and has continued to help those in need throughout the community,” said Joseph Pillittere, CH2M HILL BWXT West Valley (CHBWV) Food Drive Coordinator. “In total, the WVDP Food Drive has collected more than 2.4 million pounds of food since its inception.”

On a day off in November, more than 30 volunteers helped deliver 531 cases of food and 180 turkeys to the following food pantries: Fellowship Hill Ministries in Springville, Delevan Methodist Church, Catholic Charities Outreach in Franklinville, Saving Grace OutReach in Cattaraugus, Master’s Plan in Dayton, United Church of Christ in Ellicottville, Concord Food Pantry, Little Valley Baptist Church and West Valley Food Pantry.

“It comes down to one thing that makes this food drive successful — the generosity of our employees, partners and subcontractors,” said Jason Casper, CHBWV President. “It demonstrates the positive impact that kindness can have on a community.”

CHBWV officials extended special thanks to the following employees and members of supporting businesses and organizations: CHBWV, U.S. Department of Energy, and New York State Energy Research & Development Authority employees; International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, Lodge 2401; American DND; MJW Corporation; Hanes Supplies; Encorus Group Engineering; InTomes; Sander’s Parkview Supermarket; and Nature’s Pride.

Every year during the holiday season, resources get spread thin and the needs of our community increase. Community support from the WVDP Food Drive helps to meet those needs that may have gone unmet during the holiday season.

Amentum Team Awarded DOE West Valley Deactivation & Demolition Contract

Yahoo Finance, 12/4/24

CHANTILLY, Va., December 04, 2024–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Amentum (NYSE:AMTM) announced today that West Valley Cleanup Alliance, LLC (WVCA), a BWXT Technical Services Group-led joint venture that includes Jacobs Technology, an Amentum company, and Geosyntec Consultants, Inc, has been awarded the West Valley Project Phase 1B Deactivation & Demolition contract. Amentum will bring advanced environmental capabilities to safely clean up the West Valley Demonstration Project (WVDP) in western New York state.

“With our extensive experience bringing advanced technical solutions such as UAV, robotics, sensors, telematics, and other digital tools to safely decommission nuclear facilities, we are pleased to be selected as the Department of Energy’s partner,” said Steve Arnette, Amentum’s Chief Operating Officer. “Amentum and our partners have a successful track record addressing deactivation and decommissioning challenges and we look forward to partnering with our DOE client, regulators, and community stakeholders to further advance the cleanup mission at the West Valley Demonstration Project.”

The scope of this contract includes disposal of low level, radioactive and transuranic waste; soil remediation; decontamination and decommissioning of underground high level waste tanks, facilities and any material used in connection with the project; and eventual transport of solidified waste to a federal repository for permanent disposal.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) single-award IDIQ contract has a maximum value of up to $3 billion over a 10-year ordering period. Performance of task orders issued before the end of the contract ordering period shall not exceed five years beyond the end of the contract ordering period.

The West Valley Demonstration Project is an approximate 150-acre area located 35 miles south of Buffalo, New York.

The site is owned by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and is home to the only commercial spent nuclear fuel reprocessing facility to operate in the United States. Amentum and its legacy companies have supported the DOE’s office of Environmental Management WVDP cleanup program since 1982.

About Amentum

Amentum is a global leader in advanced engineering and innovative technology solutions, trusted by the United States and its allies to address their most significant and complex challenges in science, security and sustainability. Our people apply undaunted curiosity, relentless ambition and boundless imagination to challenge convention and drive progress.

Our commitments are underpinned by the belief that safety, inclusion and well-being are integral to success.

Headquartered in Chantilly, Virginia, we have more than 53,000 employees in approximately 80 countries across all 7 continents.

BWX-led JV wins $3B DoE cleanup contract for New York nuclear fuel project

Seeking Alpha, 12/2/2024

BWX Technologies (NYSE:BWXT) +3% post-market Monday after saying its joint venture was awarded a contract valued at as much as $3B for as much as 15 years from the U.S. Department of Energy for cleanup operations at the West Valley Demonstration Project in West Valley, New York.

The Phase 1B contract was awarded to West Valley Cleanup Alliance, a JV led by BWXT Technical Services Group (BWXT) that includes Jacobs Technology (J) and Geosyntec Consultants, with subcontractors Perma-Fix Environmental Services (PESI) and North Wind Portage.

The West Valley project is a 150-acre area south of Buffalo, New York, owned by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and home to the only commercial spent nuclear fuel reprocessing facility to operate in the U.S.

Operating during 1963-72, the site processed 640 metric tons of spent nuclear fuel and generated more than 600K gallons of liquid high-level waste.

BWXT-Led Team Awarded $3 Billion Cleanup Contract for Department of Energy’s West Valley Demonstration Project

Businesswire, 12/2/24

LYNCHBURG, Va.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–BWX Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: BWXT) is pleased to announce an award from the U.S. Department of Energy for cleanup operations at the West Valley Demonstration Project in West Valley, New York.

The Phase 1B contract was awarded to West Valley Cleanup Alliance, LLC (WVCA), which is a joint venture led by BWXT Technical Services Group, Inc. and includes Jacobs Technology, Inc. and Geosyntec Consultants, Inc. WVCA also includes teaming subcontractors Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc. and North Wind Portage, Inc.

The IDIQ contract has a 10-year ordering period with a maximum value of up to $3.0 billion that can be performed for up to 15 years.

Read the full article here.

Upcoming meeting information

The next CTF meeting will be on Wednesday, March 26, 2025 from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m.
Location: Ashford Office Complex, 9030 Route 219, West Valley
On-line webinar: Register here

Agenda coming soon

For more information

on the West Valley Citizen Task Force, please contact:

Nancy Raca, Facilitator
West Valley Citizen Task Force
c/o Highland Planning
nancy@highland-planning.com