In the News

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.

EM Update -Seneca Nation Celebrates Earth Day With Sunrise Ceremony at West Valley

April 11, 2021 – Members of the Seneca Nation of Indians kicked off an event to mark Earth Day this year at EM’s West Valley Demonstration Project with a sunrise ceremony, paying tribute to the earth and raising awareness of the
need to protect the Cattaraugus Creek watershed for future generations.
“Each step taken today is a prayer for healing for all our relations,” said Maria Maybee, the event coordinator with the Seneca Nation. “This event is a reminder that we must work together to protect the environment, for it provide everything we need in life. It’s important that this message is never forgotten, for we only have one environment.” Link to article

Salamanca Press –

April 11, 2021 – Members of the West Valley Citizens Task Force reviewed its 1998 final report April 28 as the U.S. Department of Energy prepares for the open‐air demolition of the main plant process building.

The task force meeting, held via ZOOM video, left no doubt that members want all nuclear and other wastes removed from the 200‐acre West Valley Demonstration Project. Link to article

Olean Times Herald -West Valley Citizens Task Force resolute in WVDP cleanup demands

April 30, 2021 – Members of the West Valley Citizens Task Force reviewed its 1998 final report Wednesday as the U.S. Department of Energy prepares for the open‐air demolition of the main plant process building.
The task force meeting, held via ZOOM video, left no doubt that members want all nuclear and other wastes removed from the 200‐acre West Valley Demonstration Project. Link to article

Springville Journal – Ashford Board

April 29, 2021 – …. Communications Manager for CH2M HILL BWXT West Valley, LLC Joe Pillittere reported crews at the West Valley Demonstration Project have worked over 1 million hours without a work time accident or illness, which is around 749 days. Link to article

DOE EM Update -West Valley’s Behind‐the‐Scenes Team is Critical to Cleanup, Especially in Pandemic

April 27, 2021 – A typical day for the surveillance and maintenance crew at EM’s West Valley Demonstration Project (WVDP) might begin with cleaning and sanitizing common areas and end with fixing a door, moving offices, changing a light bulb, or operating a tractor.

The team’s main responsibility is to sanitize common spaces like breakrooms, and deep clean target areas to help protect colleagues from the spread of COVID‐19. The site also purchased new sanitizers, including the handheld variety, for better protection of the workforce. Link to Update