June 16, 2022 – Today, the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Environmental Management (EM) awarded a new contract to Neptune and Company, Incorporated (Neptune) of Lakewood, Colorado. This contract is jointly funded and managed by DOE and the New York State Energy Research Development Authority (NYSERDA) to support Phase 2 decommissioning decision making for the West Valley Demonstration Project (WVDP) and the Western New York Nuclear Service Center (WNYNSC) located in West Valley, New York. Link to press release

June 16, 2022 – The Ashford Town Board, at its June 8 meeting, heard updates from Communications Manager for CH2M HILL BWXT West Valley, LLC Joe Pillittere regarding decommissioning work at the West Valley Demonstration Project.

Crews are continuing preparations for the demolition of the main plant building, with dry runs being performed on intermodals in and out of the proposed demolition area. Pillittere also said work is continuing at the product purification cell and the acid recovery cell. The foundation for the new guard house has also been poured for the new building. Link to article

June 16, 2022 – The Department of Energy (DOE) and cleanup contractor CH2M HILL BWXT West Valley partnered with Scouts BSA Troop 643 and Cattaraugus County Department of Public Works’ Adopt‐A‐Highway Program to cleanup Thornwood Drive in West Valley.

Sponsored by the West Valley Demonstration Project, Troop 643 worked with the County to adopt one mile of Thornwood Drive to enhance the attainment of a park‐like appearance on this roadway.
The troop has an agreement with the County to clean this section of Thornwood Drive a minimum of two times per year.

“Scouting helps to provide basic skills and promotes teamwork,” said Adam Fischer, Troop 643 scoutmaster. “However, this activity went beyond that by encouraging our youth to be environmental stewards in their community. In addition, it combined personal responsibility with a life‐long value. Link to article

June 16, 2022 – The Department of Energy (DOE) and cleanup contractor CH2M HILL BWXT West Valley partnered with Scouts BSA Troop 643 and Cattaraugus County Department of Public Works’ Adopt‐A‐Highway Program to cleanup Thornwood Drive in West Valley.

Sponsored by the West Valley Demonstration Project, Troop 643 worked with the County to adopt one mile of Thornwood Drive to enhance the attainment of a park‐like appearance on this roadway.
The troop has an agreement with the County to clean this section of Thornwood Drive a minimum of two times per year.

“Scouting helps to provide basic skills and promotes teamwork,” said Adam Fischer, Troop 643 scoutmaster. “However, this activity went beyond that by encouraging our youth to be environmental stewards in their community. In addition, it combined personal responsibility with a life‐long value.” Link to article

June 14, 2022 – EM has emerged from a challenging period with achievements under its belt and now is positioned for a new era of sustained progress in environmental cleanup, a program leader told a stakeholder and industry audience last week.

As it dealt with the COVID‐19 pandemic, “EM continued its important mission and realized a set of pivotal accomplishments across the country. It is thanks for many of you here today that we achieved these accomplishments and positioned EM for a new era,” said Jay Mullis, acting associate principal deputy assistant secretary for regulatory and policy affairs.

“I’m optimistic that building on our accomplishments, we can work this year to address some longstanding issues and advance EM further into this new era of steady and sustained progress for years to come,” Mullis said.

The EM official served as the keynote speaker at the 2022 RadWaste Summit, an annual conference focused on cleanup. A number of EM field managers and other program representatives also participated in the event. Link to Update