March 29, 2022 – EM’s fiscal year (FY) 2023 budget request of $7.64 billion reflects the strong commitment to clean up the environment in communities that historically supported or continue to support nuclear weapons programs and government‐sponsored nuclear research.

The request positions EM for a new era of steady and sustained achievement. The budget will further ramp up work to tackle the challenge of radioactive waste in underground storage tanks, as well as continue to drive risk reduction and skyline changes across all EM sites. Link to Update

March 26, 2022 – Demolition of the Main Plant Process Building at the West Valley Demonstration Project is expected to begin in July.

John Rendall, president of CHBWV, the WVDP cleanup contractor, said during Wednesday’s meeting of the West Valley Citizens Task Force the Main Plant Process Building is expected to be ready for demolition to begin in July.

Crews are testing the water management system designed to collect water sprayed to keep down dust during demolition. There are several air monitoring systems that will be in place during demolition — both onsite and offsite. One real‐time monitoring system will be used to suspend demolition activities if needed for safety. Link to article

March 24, 2022 – Demolition of the Load‐In Facility at the West Valley Demonstration Project (WVDP), the last ancillary support structure that surrounds the Main Plant Process Building, was recently completed.

This recent demolition brings the Department of Energy’s total number of structures removed at West Valley to 69.

DOE WVDP Director Bryan Bower commended the team for its work.

“The work of our team of dedicated employees continues to ready the site for the future demolition of the Main Plant Process Building, while reducing legacy risks at the site,” he said.

The 4,500‐square‐foot, two‐level building, which had been used for several purposes over the years, is no longer needed for EM’s cleanup. It is set to join the list of Main Plant ancillary structures already torn down, helping shrink the site’s cleanup footprint. Those six support structures were used for everything from reducing the size of waste for disposal to providing space for offices, utilities and laundry services. Link to article

March 24, 2022 – EM and its prime contractor CH2M HILL BWXT West Valley completed the conversion of an onsite office building to a demolition support complex. This reconfigured facility will support cleanup activities during the demolition of the main plant process building, an EM CY2022 priority.

“The reconfiguration of this former office building will provide support for our dedicated workers who will be directly involved in the demolition of the main plant,” WVDP Director Bryan Bower said. “From showers to personal protective equipment, this facility will become an integral part in helping EM continue its their mission of reducing legacy risks and life‐cycle costs.”

WVDP’s new demolition support complex boasts new locker rooms and showers for men and women, personal protective equipment, respirator issuance room, radiation monitoring control room, radiation control personnel and a large area for pre‐job briefings, meetings and lunch. Link to article

March 17, 2022 – EM and its prime contractor CH2M HILL BWXT West Valley (CHBWV) completed the conversion of an onsite office building to a demolition support complex.

This reconfigured facility will support cleanup activities during the demolition of the Main Plant Process Building, an EM priority for 2022.

“The reconfiguration of this former office building will provide support for our dedicated workers who will be directly involved in the demolition of the Main Plant,” said WVDP Director Bryan Bower. “From showers to personal protective equipment, this facility will become an integral part in helping EM continue its mission of reducing legacy risks and lifecycle costs.” Link to article