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.

DOE EM Update – Vit Facility Demolition is West Valleyʹs Signature Achievement ‐ So Far

September 12, 2019 – In 2018, EM and its cleanup contractor safely completed the demolition of the 50-foot-tall, 10,000-square-foot Vitrification Facility at the West Valley Demonstration Project (WVDP).

The take-down of the Vitrification Facility represented the largest and most complex demolition of a radioactively contaminated facility at the WVDP to date, and was a key accomplishment in the progress to decommission the site. Link to update

DOE EM Update – West Valley Workers Receive Impromptu Fire Safety Training

September 10, 2019 – EM and its cleanup contractor at the West Valley Demonstration Project recently held unannounced safety exercises for employees using a fire extinguisher training simulator.

Representatives from CH2M HILL BWXT West Valley’s (CHBWV) training and emergency management departments drove around the site asking employees to participate in a simulated fire scenario at random. Workers described actions they would take in the event of a fire, using the simulator to extinguish a vehicle fire. Link to Update

Energy Communities Alliance Bulletin – Op-Ed: Town of Ashford Calls on DOE to Include West Valley Cleanup in HLW Interpretation

September 2019 – It’s time for the Department of Energy to clean up West Valley.

Once again, the Town of Ashford and the West Valley Demonstration Project (WVDP) are on the outside looking in as far the United States Department of Energy (DOE) is concerned. A recent DOE proposal for interpreting high-level waste might have cleared the way for relocation of West Valley’s high-level waste, but DOE has now updated that proposal to exclude West Valley. Also, DOE could be disposing the transuranic waste that has been stored at the site since the 1980s, but DOE refuses to dispose of this waste at WIPP, the one disposal site in the nation where it belongs. The Town of Ashford and its residents deserve better. Link to Op-Ed

Springville Journal – NYSERDA opens archery deer hunting at the WNY Nuclear Service Center

September 5, 2019 – The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority will offer its annual deer hunting program at the Western New York Nuclear Service Center in the town of Ashford Oct. 1 through Nov. 15.

Approximately 1,500 acres will be open for hunting; participants must register for archery hunting online. Scouting will be available Sept. 21, 25 and 28; participants must register online for scouting. Crossbows will be allowed the last two weeks of archery season (Nov. 2 through 15). Link to article

DOE EM Update – Collaboration Results in Reliable Power for West Valley Cleanup

September 3, 2019 – EM workers recently installed a new electrical service and distribution system at the West Valley Demonstration Project (WVDP), providing more reliable power to cleanup operations.

“The completion of this work evolution will not only bring many benefits to the future cleanup of our EM site but also to the West Valley community,” EM WVDP Deputy Director Craig Rieman said. “This infrastructure upgrade will greatly increase the site’s electrical power reliability during future decommissioning and remediation activities now and will provide a reliable source of power for future cleanup activities.” Link to Update