December 23, 2020 – With an eye to his environment agenda, President-elect Joe Biden has chosen Jennifer Granholm to be his secretary of energy. A perplexing move. She is a lawyer, a career politician, and a two-term Democratic governor of Michigan. She is about to head the world’s largest scientific organization.

Granholm will be found, after confirmation, on the 7th floor of the Forrestal Building, headquarters of the Department of Energy. It is a utilitarian, concrete structure in southwest Washington, across Independence Avenue from the romantic Smithsonian Castle. Link to article

December 24, 2020 – EM and its prime contractor CH2M HILL BWXT West Valley recently grouted the general purpose cell. The GPC is a large cell that is nearly 30 feet below grade and will remain until the below grade portion of the main plant process building is removed in the future. The grout was placed in the GPC to provide structural stability to allow heavy demolition equipment to drive over the below grade rooms, while the main plant process building is being demolished. Work was performed by the Facility Disposition team, which is responsible for deactivation and demolition activities. Link to article

December 23, 2020 – U.S. Rep. Tom Reed said Monday that he hopes the cooperation between members of the House Problem Solvers Caucus and a group of senators exhibited on the coronavirus relief bill can contribute to a bipartisan dialogue in the 2021 Congress.

Speaking to reporters on his weekly press call, Reed highlighted the contents of the $900 billion coronavirus relief bill that was sparked by House and Senate members. Link to article

December 22, 2020 – Congressman Brian Higgins, D-NY-26, outlined components of the omnibus budget package of particular interest to Western New York. The legislation, approved by the House of Representatives, directs funding for the federal government for fiscal year 2021.

Higgins said, “2020 has been a challenging year in many ways. We are looking forward to a new year that rises to meet the challenges before the nation centered on rebuilding and reuniting with a renewed focus on the issues most important to the American people. This budget begins that process.” Link to article

December 19, 2020 – One of the most radioactive buildings in the United States is slated for open-air demolition 35 miles southeast, upwind and upstream of Buffalo and the Seneca Nation Cattaraugus Territory.

The U.S. Department of Energy plans to demolish the above-ground part of the Main Plant Process Building at the West Valley nuclear site this spring. The building, between 1966 and 1972, housed Nuclear Fuel Services’ chemical extraction of plutonium and uranium from intensely radioactive nuclear power and weapons fuel, leaving behind immense amounts of radioactivity. Some ended up on and in the walls, floors and ceilings inside the building.

The question is: Can the demolition be done without spreading radioactivity throughout Western and Central New York, Canada, the Seneca Nation and communities downwind and downstream? Link to article