October 29, 2021 – A leak of radioactive liquid from a container being moved at the West Valley Demonstration Project site on Monday triggered activation of the site’s Emergency Operations Center.

Kelly Wooley, deputy general manager for CHBWV, the contractor in the cleanup at the West Valley Demonstration Project, said liquid was seen leaking from a sure‐pack container that was being moved about 2 p.m.

“The operation stopped and the area was secured,” Wooley told members of the West Valley Citizens Task Force Wednesday at the group’s monthly meeting, held via ZOOM video due to COVID‐19 restrictions.

Liquid was spotted on the container, on the trailer that was transporting it and on the ground. The area was isolated, but it was rainy. Sandbags and absorbent pads were placed over the area to limit migration. Link to article

October 26, 2021 – Did you know that one of the most intensely radioactive sites in the world is located not far from Buffalo? Aside from its close proximity, the West Valley Nuclear Waste Site is also located upstream and upwind of Buffalo and the rest of NY, the Seneca Nation of Indians Territories, and Canada.

For years, activists and environmentalists have warned of the dangers found at the West Valley Nuclear Waste site, where highly radioactive nuclear power and weapons waste was reprocessed to extract plutonium and uranium. Now, there are additional fears that dangerous radioactivity could enter into our air, water, soil, food, etc., as a building – considered one of the most radioactive buildings at that site and across the country – is slated to be demolished in December 2021. Link to article

October 26, 2021 – The workshop, the sixth and final one in the series, Climate, Clean-up and Accountability at the West Valley Nuclear Waste Site in 2021 will be held virtually, is free and is open to the public. Federal and NYS major environmental laws were passed years after the West Valley Nuclear site was chosen and built. So, nothing at the site meets current environmental laws or standards. Now climate change threatens to exacerbate the immediate danger of contamination. Barbara Warren, RN, MS, and Executive Director, Citizens’ Environmental Coalition, will review findings of reports on the site. She will detail the plans for the North and South Plateaus, waste tanks, and disposal areas. Link to article

October 23, 2021 – The Department of Energy’s prime contractor at the West Valley Demonstration Project, used their day off to “roll up their sleeves” to make a difference in their community. Employees from CH2M HILL BWXT West Valley (CHBWV) helped Springville Youth Incorporated by reconstructing the raised garden and installing concrete parking curbs at their pool and playground area and performed some concrete work. This work was done as part of CHBWV’s continued commitment to the community.

On September 24, 12 volunteers performed work at Springville Youth Incorporated to improve the aesthetics of their pool and playground area. A portion of the materials and all landscaping plants for the work were purchased and donated by CHBWV employees and local businesses. Link to article

October 16, 2021 – The West Valley Demonstration Project (WVDP) recently conducted a graduation ceremony for three security police officers who completed a seven‐week security training course through a first‐time partnership with the local sheriff’s office.

The officers, Travis Radomski, Gregory Jacobs, and Tage Soderlund, would normally take the course at DOE’s National Training Center (NTC) in Albuquerque, New Mexico. However, there was no space available for them at the center’s basic security police officer training course this year due to a large number of new recruits from across the DOE complex requiring training. Link to article