Below are articles and other news published since the last West Valley Citizen Task Force Meeting. They relate to the West Valley Demonstration Project, nuclear waste cleanup or are otherwise relevant or of potential interest to stakeholders interested in the Project. After each Citizen Task Force Meeting, these articles are compiled into a single document and may be found with the meeting materials for that month.
September 2, 2021 – More than 100 Cattaraugus County residents who were fully vaccinated against COVID‐19 have contracted the coronavirus — they are known as breakthrough cases.
Dr. Kevin D. Watkins, the county’s public health director, told members of the Board of Health on Wednesday that 113 people, or 0.35% who are fully vaccinated, and 61, or 0.18% of people who had just one shot, have tested positive for COVID‐19. Link to article
August 31, 2021 – Activist concerns notwithstanding, federal officials are sticking with their plan to demolish a highly radioactive building at the West Valley Demonstration Project.
Despite the calls from residents, activists and experts, “no major amendments” have been
made to the plan, according to a spokesman for the U.S. Department of Energy, Joseph
Pillitere.
Officials maintain sufficient safety procedures are in place. Link to article
August 30, 2021 – The United States Department of Energy (DOE) and the lead contractor decommissioning a former commercial nuclear fuel reprocessing center near Buffalo, New York, have held public meetings to explain the next stage in the multi-year project.
An online news article by the Olean (New York) Times Herald says some 35 western New York residents attended the meetings held by the DOE and CH2M Hill BWXT West Valley LLC (CHBWV), the lead contractor of the complicated project. CH2M Hill is an engineering and contracting firm based in Colorado.
CHBWV, on a its website, says it was selected by the DOE to conduct Phase I Decommissioning activities at the WVDP under an 8.6-year, $461.4 million contract that began in August 2011. In 2020, the DOE extended CHBWV’s cleanup contract to last through June 2023. The new total contract value may run as high as $836 million. Link to article
August 30, 2021 – Thirty‐five West Valley area residents and others attended a town hall meeting Wednesday on the proposed open‐air demolition of the Main Plant Process Building at the West Valley Demonstration Project.
Two meetings for up to 25 residents each were scheduled by the U.S. Department of Energy, the contractor, CH2M HILL BWXT West Valley, LLC and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority. Attendance at the West Valley Hose Co. Firemen’s Hall was limited due to federal COVID‐19 protocols.
Ashford Supervisor John Pfeffer, a member of the West Valley Citizens Task Force, said he understands the science behind the planned demolition and supports it. “I’m quite pleased they (town hall) did it,” Pfeffer said on Friday. “The intent was to have residents to have an opportunity to hear the details of the plan.” Link to article
August 28, 2021 – Thirty‐five West Valley area residents and others attended a town hall meeting Wednesday on the proposed open‐air demolition of the Main Plant Process Building at the West Valley Demonstration Project.
Two meetings for up to 25 residents each were scheduled by the U.S. Department of Energy, the contractor, CH2M HILL BWXT West Valley, LLC and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority. Attendance at the West Valley Hose Co. Firemen’s Hall was limited due to federal COVID‐19 protocols.
Ashford Supervisor John Pfeffer, a member of the West Valley Citizens Task Force, said he understands the science behind the planned demolition and supports it. “I’m quite pleased they (town hall) did it,” Pfeffer said on Friday.
“The intent was to have residents to have an opportunity to hear the details of the plan.” Link to article
