EM Update — July 25, 2023

Eight EM sites have been honored with the 2023 Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) Purchaser Award, the most the cleanup program has won in a year since the program honoring purchases of sustainable goods began in 2015.

“EM is a leader in the Department and had a very successful year in the 2023 EPEAT Purchaser Award Program,” EM Chief Information Officer Jeanne Beard said. “The office’s field sites have now earned 40 total EPEAT awards since the program began in 2015.”

West Valley Demonstration Project cleanup contractor CH2M HILL BWXT West Valley was a winner in three product categories and fourth straight award for the site.

Read the full article here.

EM Update — July 18, 2023

WEST VALLEY, N.Y. – EM and its cleanup contractor at the West Valley Demonstration Project have safely removed a penthouse enclosure as part of ongoing demolition of the Main Plant Process Building.

“Safety comes down to planning, preparation and robust controls,” EM West Valley Main Plant Project Director Stephen Bousquet said. “Our team continues to perform work in a deliberate and methodical manner that’s protective of our workforce, the public and the environment.”

The Main Plant is one of the last remaining major facilities at West Valley. Its successful demolition will further reduce environmental risks and position the site for the next phase in cleanup. The demolition is expected to take approximately 30 months to complete.

Crews recently completed the controlled demolition of the Chemical Process Cell penthouse. A steel‐framed and concrete block enclosure, it housed a 125‐ton shield door used during former reprocessing operations. The enclosure also housed a mechanism to raise and lower the shield door.

The Chemical Process Cell was once used to dissolve sheared spent nuclear fuel and reduce the volume of high‐level waste generated in the fuel reprocessing solvent extraction process.

Prior to removing the penthouse, crews with CH2M HILL BWXT West Valley (CHBWV) accessed the cell by dismantling its 5‐foot‐thick, steel‐reinforced concrete walls. They took down the enclosure in a safe and deliberate manner while using equipment to control dust at its source. Workers also removed two levels of accessible steel storage racks and packaged debris for off‐site disposal.

“Using lessons learned and a deliberate approach from previous demolition activities has been an excellent combination for safety and success,” CHBWV Facility Disposition Manager Tom Dogal said.

Crews are also working toward carrying out an EM 2023 priority: dispose of 9,000 tons of Main Plant demolition waste.

EM Update — July 6, 2023

The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management (EM) has updated its popular “By the Numbers” feature, which illustrates progress at cleanup sites through quick and clear infographics.

Facts and figures on each major EM site, plus the Savannah River National Laboratory, can be found here. Each site page also features a key look forward to an expected achievement over the next decade, as described in more detail in the Strategic Vision 2023‐2033, a blueprint to the program’s anticipated accomplishments over the next decade that will protect the public and environment.

At the West Valley Demonstration Project, 69 surplus facilities have been removed from the site.

Read the full article here.

Olean Times Herald — July 5, 2023

WEST VALLEY — The prime contractor to the U.S. Department of Energy at the West Valley Demonstration Project was recently announced as a Leader in Sustainable Electronics Procurement with a 2023 EPEAT Purchaser Award winner, celebrating leaders in sustainable electronics procurement.

The award comes from the Global Electronics Council (GEC), the non‐profit organization that manages the EPEAT ecolabel. EPEAT allows local organizations, municipalities and agencies to efficiently address the lifecycle impacts of the electronics we purchase, including computers, displays, printers, copiers, network equipment, mobile phones, servers, photovoltaic modules, inverters and televisions.

EPEAT is used in purchasing contracts to require that vendors only provide electronics that meet strict sustainability criteria. These products are more energy efficient, less toxic, longer lasting and easier to recycle than products that do not meet EPEAT criteria while addressing labor and human rights issues along the entire supply chain.

According to the Green Electronics Council, the electronics purchased for the WVDP in 2022 will result in several environmental and energy‐saving over their lifetime and include:

■ A reduction of 5,267 kilograms of CO2 equivalents (taking two cars off the road for a year).

■ A savings of 15,982 kWh of electricity (annual electric consumption 3 households).

■ A savings of 27,520 liters of water.

Participation in the 2023 EPEAT Purchaser Awards program is particularly noteworthy in that it is a voluntary program and demonstrates a commitment to excellence, reflecting well on all involved at the WVDP.

“Participating in this program is part of our commitment to being stewards of the environment,” said President John Rendall. “Our volunteer efforts in this program help to protect the environment and save money for taxpayers and the government. It is the right thing to do.”

Springville Journal – June 29, 2023

The Ashford Town Board, at its June 14 meeting, discussed updates with the COPS hiring program funding, which previously awarded the town $125,000 to advance the practice of community policing through the hire or rehire of additional career law enforcement officers.

Supervisor John Pfeffer said the town has a law enforcement officer available who meets the requirements of the grant. Pfeffer said he will continue working with the next steps and keep the board informed on future updates on the officer.

“I’m starting to get all these ducks in a row to make this all happen,” Pfeffer said. “That’s really good news.”

Communications and External Affairs Manager for CH2M HILL BWXT West Valley, LLC Joe Pillittere gave an update on the decommissioning work at the West Valley Demonstration Project. Crews continue to work on deconstruction of the Main Plant Process Building, with crews recently working on demolition at the Chemical Process Cell. Pillittere also updated the board on the waste management shipments from the site. 368 intermodals have been generated and 350 have been shipped, with a net weight of 6,530 tons. 28 specialty containers have also been generated and 19 have been shipped to date, with a net weight of 167 tons.

In other board news:

– The board authorized the purchase of a new and unused 3/4 ton pickup style truck with plow package for $30,712.50 from Jim Murphy Chevrolet Buick of Springville pending further review of the bid by the highway superintendent to ensure all specifications are met.

– Highway Superintendent Keith Butcher reported on progress being made on the town trucks to be fire safety compliant before winter, with Butcher stating it would cost around $680 per truck. Butcher also provided further information to the board on a map program available to the town from Southern Tier West, which could mark everything from signs, guardrails, culverts and many other parts of the town and make things easier for the highway department and other departments within the town. Butcher stated the map program would cost $650 per year.

– The board approved a resolution for the Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail’s application for the Cascade Bridge Evaluation and Planning project to the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. The Town of Ashford endorsed this application with the understanding the Town of Ashford does not commit to any funding.

The next Town of Ashford board meeting will be Wednesday, July 12 at 7 p.m.