EM Update, June 11, 2024 —
WEST VALLEY, N.Y. – U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management (EM) crews at the West Valley Demonstration Project have safely removed sections of contaminated ventilation duct as part of ongoing demolition of the Main Plant Process Building.
The 26-inch-diameter duct had carried exhaust from past operations. It was located in the plant’s Vent Wash Room, a cell housing a ventilation “scrubber” that removed airborne particulates resulting from fuel reprocessing operations that ceased in 1972. The 19 sections of the duct were removed from that space during deactivation activities in 2021 and placed in another area of the plant so they could be taken out during the current demolition phase.
After removing the duct sections from the Vent Wash Room in 2021, crews removed debris, applied fixative to the cell, grouted the floor and placed the duct sections into containment bags to control contamination for removal.
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