EM Update, 11/19/2024

WEST VALLEY, N.Y. — Two research scientists from universities in Japan visited the West Valley Demonstration Project earlier this fall to test their novel radiation detectors.

Environmental monitoring activities following the 2011 earthquake and tsunami and associated nuclear accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station in Japan showed the need for a prompt and mobile radioactivity measurement system.

Minoru Tanigaki with Kyoto University brought the KURAMA-II to West Valley for testing. It’s a portable detector system that monitors air dose rate and radioisotope concentration levels in the ground at the same time. Sadao Momota with Kochi University of Technology tested his soil gamma-ray measurement system at the site. It can be used in the field to provide real-time soil contamination data.

Tanigaki’s prototype, KURAMA, could be used in vehicles and enabled radioactivity measurement near the ground in wide areas. It evolved into KURAMA-II, which features real-time location tracking and radiation measurements. Hundreds of the KURAMA-II have been deployed in Fukushima and the surrounding areas, providing air dose rate maps over the past decade.

As the emergency period following the accident passed, evacuees returned to their communities and air dose rates in the region decreased. The focus on radioactivity monitoring in the region shifted to tracking radioactive materials deposited in the residential areas and farmlands. KURAMA-II was redesigned for such purposes as it’s small enough to fit in a backpack.

With Momota’s device, a soil sample is collected down to a one-foot depth and placed on the measurement system. The results of gamma spectroscopy are automatically displayed on an attached monitor. Such real-time data enables farmers to understand the condition of their farm fields without waiting weeks for laboratory analysis.

Tanigaki and Momota envision expanding use of their equipment from nuclear accident response to radioactivity survey at industrial nuclear sites undergoing decommissioning and decontamination.

The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management is currently demolishing the Main Plant Process Building at West Valley, a project scheduled for completion next year. As West Valley moves to the next phase — contaminated soils remediation and disposition, and demolition of remaining Main Plant components and other facilities — there may be an opportunity for further collaboration among the two research scientists and West Valley, according to Jennifer Dundas, West Valley assistant director of the Office of Technical Services.

“The visit to West Valley by Minoru Tanigaki and Sadao Momota was successful in that both agreed that their collaboration would be mutually beneficial,” Dundas said. “That is, radioactivity measurement technology development for the researchers and safe decommissioning planning for West Valley.”

Springville Journal, 11/14/24

The Department of Energy and its cleanup contractor CH2M HILL BWXT West Valley, recently achieved more than one million work hours without a lost-time injury or illness. From April 2023 through September 2024, the West Valley Demonstration Project team has worked 1,009,750 work hours without a lost-time injury or illness.

Read the full article here.

Salamanca Press, 11/7/24

WEST VALLEY — The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management’s (EM) West Valley Demonstration Project hosted a roundtable event with the New York State Energy Research & Development Authority to update the site’s regulators on current and future cleanup.

“Communicating with our regulatory colleagues is crucial to achieving cleanup progress at the West Valley Demonstration Project site,” said Kristen Ellis, EM associate principal deputy assistant secretary for regulatory and policy affairs. “It was great to meet in October to resume in-person dialogue and start building a common vision with federal and state partners to address the remaining environmental challenges.”

The daylong meeting provided an opportunity to ask questions and hear from subject matter experts on a variety of key topics, including a project update, environmental monitoring, onsite dam spillway repair and future contract work scope focused on soil remediation and other activities.

“This is a team effort that involves all the agencies as we strive to meet or exceed our regulatory compliance standards and minimize potential impacts from site cleanup operations,” said Jennifer Dundas, West Valley’s assistant director of Technical Services. “Through engagement, involvement and communication, we strive to seek valuable input from the regulatory community as we take the next steps toward site decommissioning and closure.”

Springville Journal, 10/25/24 —

The Department of Energy and its cleanup contractor at the West Valley Demonstration Project recently conducted a large-scale, full-participation exercise that included Cattaraugus County Emergency Services, Cattaraugus County 911 Dispatch Center and Sheriff’s Department, DOE-HQ Watch Office, Argonne National Lab Mock Media Team, and evaluation assistance from DOE-HQ. This exercise, which was based on a hypothetical incident involving contamination event due to sabotage by an insider threat, tested the skills and response of these local agencies as well as the site’s Radiological Controls Department, Environmental Department, Emergency Medical Response Team, Security Force and Operational Response Team, Technical Support Center and Emergency Operations Center.

It’s been stated that during an emergency, you always fall back on your training. Disasters can occur at any time, and a knowledgeable, well-trained emergency response team can significantly improve the outcome of any event. Exercises provide real-world training and constructive feedback to improve areas identified during the hypothetical emergency scenario.

Jennifer Dundas, DOE-WVDP Assistant Director of the Office of Technical Services, commented on this year’s exercise.

“Exercises allow us to safely test the knowledge and response of our organization through a real-life scenario that includes challenging situations. We understand the importance and benefit of having trained emergency responders working at West Valley.”

This large-scale exercise, held at the WVDP site, was designed to validate the team’s response to an unannounced hypothetical incident and their ability to minimize the potential impact on employees, the public and the environment.

Kevin Murray, CHBWV Senior Emergency Management Specialist, reiterated a quote he had heard during one of his training courses: “Because you never know when the day before … is the day before. Prepare for tomorrow.” He stressed the importance of being prepared for any situation through training and drills/exercises. “You can never predict the future or what will happen tomorrow; however, by being prepared we can effectively deal with any situation to minimize or prevent its impact on people, property, and the community. This is why we continue to train, learn, and evaluate our performance.” DOE-WVDP staff and WVDP personnel helped develop the scenario and supported the exercise as controllers and evaluators. This included coordinating the many tasks that had to occur to make it more realistic and truly test responders from beginning to end.

EM Update, October 15, 2024 —

WEST VALLEY, N.Y. – Disasters can occur at any time, and a knowledgeable, well-trained emergency response team can significantly improve the outcome of any event. 

That’s why the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Environmental Management and its cleanup contractor at the West Valley Demonstration Project recently undertook an exercise in response to a hypothetical emergency scenario. The mock event provided real-world training and constructive feedback for improvement. 

Held annually at the West Valley site, the large-scale exercise was based on a hypothetical incident involving a contamination event due to sabotage by an insider threat. The exercise was designed to validate the team’s response to the unannounced hypothetical incident and its ability to minimize the potential impact on employees, the public and the environment. 

Read the full article here.