EM Update, May 28, 2024 —
U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management (EM) (https://www.energy.gov/em/office-environmental-management) crews safely removed and packaged for disposal another massive component from the Main Plant Process Building recently as part of the facility’s ongoing demolition at the West Valley Demonstration Project (WVDP) (https://www.energy.gov/em/west-valley-demonstration-project-wvdp).
The vent washer weighed approximately 15,000 pounds and was approximately 7 feet wide, 20 feet long and more than 7 feet high. Its removal comes after EM crews successfully cleared the “Green Giant” (https://www.energy.gov/em/articles/west-valley-workers-pull-green-giant-main-plant) from the facility. Painted green decades ago, it was a system that held samples from various vessels used in former spent fuel reprocessing operations at West Valley. It weighed 1,100 pounds, with 75,000 pounds of steel and lead shield plates on the outside of it.
“The West Valley Demonstration Project team continues to make great progress in the demolition of the Main Plant as part of our cleanup efforts,” Stephen Bousquet, EM West Valley assistant director of Project Management, said of the vent washer removal.
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