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.

Olean Times Herald – Ashford urges Congress to increase DOE’s Environmental Management funding

May 22, 2020 – A broad coalition of labor, community and industry organizations has sent a letter urging Congress to provide a one-time $7.25 billion increase in funding for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Environmental Management program to some of the regions hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic.

Among those communities is the town of Ashford, home of the West Valley Demonstration Project. Link to article

Tri-City Herald – $7 billion stimulus plan for Hanford and others could add jobs and kick-start national economy

May 18, 2020 – Tri-Cities area supporters of Hanford nuclear reservation cleanup are asking Congress to provide a one-time boost to Hanford funding to help jump start the national and Tri-Cities economy during the new coronavirus pandemic.

The Tri-Cities Development Council and Hanford Communities joined with other local government, community and industry organizations asking for $7.25 billion in stimulus money for environmental cleanup of Department of Energy sites. Link to article

Idaho Falls Magazine – City of Idaho Falls Signs Letter to Increase DOE EM Funding to Create Jobs, Infrastructure

May 18, 2020 – Recently, a broad coalition of labor, community and industry organizations prepared a letter urging Congress to provide a much-needed economic boost to some of the regions hardest hit by the current pandemic through a one-time $7.25 billion increase in funding for the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Environmental Management (EM) program. Link to article

Salamanca Press – Face masks for WVDP employees purchased from local business

May 14, 2020 – CH2M HILL BWXT West Valley (CHBWV), the prime contractor at the West Valley Demonstration Project, recently purchased cloth face coverings for its employees.

“Throughout the response to the COVID‐19 pandemic, the USDOE and CHBWV have continued to follow the guidelines of the Administration, DOE and other federal officials and state and local authorities,” USDOE‐WVDP Director Bryan Bower, said. One of those guidelines was the use of cloth face coverings when social distancing is not practicable.

CHBWV’s Procurement team learned about a local business that just started producing cloth face coverings, and at a lower cost than other potential vendors providing value to taxpayers. Link to article

Springville Journal – Face coverings purchase by CHBWV benefits employees, community and veterans

May 14, 2020 – CH2M HILL BWXT West Valley, the prime contractor at the West Valley Demonstration Project, recently purchased cloth face coverings for its employees.

“Throughout the response to the COVID‐19 pandemic, the USDOE and CHBWV have continued to follow the guidelines of the Administration, DOE, and other federal officials and state and local authorities,” USDOE‐WVDP Director Bryan Bower said. One of those guidelines was the use of cloth face coverings when social distancing is not practicable.