September 4, 2022 – More than two dozen local and national organizations are urging the governor and state leaders to call for more safety measures during the demolition of the West Valley Demonstration Project’s largest radioactive building.

The decommissioning of the Main Plant Process Building (MPPB) is scheduled to begin this month and take nearly three years.

With concrete walls one to five feet thick, safely dismantling the building to contain the remaining radiation is an arduous process. Link to article

September 1, 2022 – Eight high‐integrity containers containing radioactive water filtering materials were removed last week from near the Main Plant Process Building at the West Valley Demonstration Project.

The Department of Energy and contractor CH2M Hill BWXT West Valley LLC announced the relocation of the shielded containers weighing between 68,000 and 80,000 pounds on Tuesday.

The water‐filtering materials were from the former Fuel Receiving and Storage facility water treatment system which was used to receive and store spent nuclear fuel during fuel reprocessing operations from 1966 to 1972. Link to article

September 1, 2022 – The Department of Energy and its prime contractor CH2M HILL BWXT West Valley at the West Valley Demonstration Project completed the deactivation of the Ventilation Wash Room, which housed a ventilation “scrubber” that removed airborne particulates resulting from fuel reprocessing operations that ceased in 1972. During deactivation, the scrubber was prepared for removal and will be removed during the future demolition of the Main Plant Process Building, an EM 2022 Priority.

“The safe execution of this work is due to the combination of extensive planning, deliberate speed and using worker feedback throughout the deactivation,” Department of Energy WVDP DOE Federal Project Director for the MPPB Demolition Steve Bousquet said. “The WVDP team continues its strong commitment to safely protecting its workers, the public and the environment while reducing legacy risks at the site.” Link to article

August 30, 2022 – DOE and an association that helps worksites advance safety and health goals last week awarded several cleanup contractors across the EM complex — from Washington state and New Mexico to New York and South Carolina — for achievements in safety, health, innovation and outreach. Link to update

August 29, 2022 – Workers completed the deactivation of the Ventilation Wash Room, which housed a ventilation “scrubber” that removed airborne particulates resulting from fuel reprocessing operations that ceased in 1972. Fixative has been applied to the room in preparation for the future demolition of the Main Plant Process Building. Link to article