EM Update 2/28/23 —

While its mission is rooted in the environmental legacy of the past, EM is focused on possibilities for a future that holds great promise for its union workforce, industry leaders, tribal nations and communities surrounding cleanup sites, and partners around the globe, EM Senior Advisor William “Ike” White told an audience at the 2023 Waste Management Symposia on Monday.

Read the full coverage here.

Springville Journal 2/23/23 —

Acting as lead agency with no financial impact, the Town of Ashford was awarded $50,000 through the Energy Communities Alliance Local Government Education and Outreach Funding grant. This funding assistance will 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. Additionally, this grant will assist the town with interpreting the results of the PPA model and will specifically support the town with the following grant required activities; increase education of local communities regarding site risk and reasonable maximum exposure scenarios, and provide the CTF and community with a better understanding of the application of federal and state cleanup laws, standards and goals for the WVDP site which includes expectations for eventual use of land and/or natural resources affected by DOE contaminant releases, the pending cleanup decisions which will likely include planned institutional controls or planned engineered controls for remediation or legacy management, processes and activities. 

Implementation of this project will begin immediately.

The Town of Ashford thanks those instrumental in supporting this effort. 

Olean Times Herald and Springville Journal 2/22/23 —

Officials at the West Valley Demonstration Project have announced the availability of a new video related to the commencement of the controlled deconstruction of the Main Plant Process Building.

This video features subject matter experts from the Department of Energy and CH2M HILL BWXT West Valley with more than 200 years of combined experience in nuclear decommissioning and environmental cleanup.

“The purpose of this video is to thank every employee here, as well as those who worked here in the past,” said Bryan Bower, WVDP director. “Individuals with diverse backgrounds and education used their collective experience, expertise and knowledge on how to safely deactivate and take down the Main Plant. That was all done here by an incredible workforce.”

The Main Plant Process Building is the last major facility to be removed from the site and represents more than two decades of deactivation and decommissioning work.

In some cases, West Valley employees have spent their entire careers working to witness this significant milestone that will change the landscape of the site forever.

“On Sept. 21, 2022, we began the controlled deconstruction of the Main Plant, and our workforce… our awesome workforce got us here,” said John Rendall, CHBWV President. “What’s been accomplished here, by this workforce, is to be commended. Everything that’s happened since the signing of the West Valley Demonstration Project Act has led to this day and our employees made it happen.”

The video includes subject matter experts directly involved in the project who provide technical support and oversight to ensure work is performed in a manner that is protective of human health and the surrounding environment.

DOE’s planned approach for deconstructing the MPPB incorporates best practices and lessons learned from the WVDP and across the DOE complex. This approach includes the use of deliberately planned and sequenced demolition, the implementation of robust work controls and the use of specialized tools and techniques to safely deconstruct the building.

Demolition of the Main Plant is expected to take approximately 30 months to complete. The video can be found on YouTube. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIr‐S4a2mEk]

EM Update, Olean Times, and Springville Journal — 2/21/23

EM recently added two security police officers to its protective force at the West Valley Demonstration Project (WVDP) after the pair completed a seven‐week security training course at DOE’s National Training Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

“We understand the importance and benefit of having trained emergency responders working at West Valley,” EM WVDP Security Manager Mark Simsick said. “As trained and qualified officers, they now have increased responsibilities to protect the health and safety of our workers and the public. We recognize and appreciate their continued commitment to serve others.”

The two officers, Richard Carson and Jonathan Zimmer, had previously worked as unarmed security officers at the site.

The course included firearm qualifications, defensive tactics, use of force, first aid and combat casualty care, vehicle stops, DOE tactical doctrine, physical fitness and other required courses of study.

Dave Schuman, safeguards and security manager for EM cleanup contractor CH2M HILL BWXT West Valley, said it was important for the WVDP team to recognize the graduates for completing the training.

“This training pushed these recruits both mentally and physically, and we applaud them for their commitment and perseverance,” Schuman said. “They spent time away from their families so they could better serve and protect the site, its employees and the community.”

Quality training programs are essential to support the protection of critical Departmental assets, national security, and the environment, as well as the health and safety of the workforce and the public, according to the National Training Center.

WGRZ 2/17/23 —

The train derailment and chemical spill in East Palestine, Ohio, is the focus of a lot of attention nationwide.

Freight trains and trucks carrying hazardous chemicals and very combustible materials, of course, also pass regularly through Western New York. 2 On Your Side looked into the local contingency planning for such incidents in this area and what more can be done.
Read the full story here.