The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management (EM) and its cleanup contractor at the West Valley Demonstration Project recently notched an annual cleanup priority ahead of schedule for a second consecutive year
Office of Environmental Management
September 3, 2024
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An intermodal shipment of waste containers departs the West Valley Demonstration Project, representing a milestone for the site. West Valley recently met a U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management 2024 priority to safely dispose of a cumulative 20,000 tons of Main Plant Process Building demolition waste since the project’s start about two years ago.
WEST VALLEY, N.Y. — The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management (EM) and its cleanup contractor at the West Valley Demonstration Project recently notched an annual cleanup priority ahead of schedule for a second consecutive year, this time safely shipping more than 40 million pounds — equivalent to 20,000 tons — of debris from the demolition of the Main Plant Process Building since launching the project in fall 2022.
Crews with CH2M HILL BWXT West Valley (CHBWV) have packaged and shipped by rail more than 1,000 waste containers from the project for safe disposal offsite. They loaded each container with about 40,000 pounds of debris.
Meanwhile, demolition of the Main Plant is 67% complete, with more than 40 of 60 cells within the facility demolished. Watch a video created earlier this summer to mark the halfway point in the project.
EM officials attribute the latest successful achievement to extensive planning, an experienced and dedicated workforce, and a commitment to safety.
“The West Valley team did an excellent job in their planning and preparation for this achievement,” said Stephen Bousquet, EM West Valley assistant director for the Office of Project Management. “The adherence to our protected assumptions and deliberate speed led to this successful milestone completion. Site crews were outstanding in performing the work safely, compliantly and efficiently.”
By the end of the Main Plant demolition project, the site is expected to ship about 500 additional waste containers by rail for disposal offsite.
“The team was deliberate in the planning and execution of this work, and worked closely with the onsite demolition crew and offsite disposal facilities, resulting in the safe and compliant disposition of demolition waste,” said Peggy Loop, CHBWV Waste and Site Operations manager.
Last year, West Valley crews accomplished an EM 2023 priority ahead of schedule after safely shipping more than 9,000 tons of Main Plant demolition debris for disposal offsite.
The Main Plant, a 35,100-square-foot, reinforced-concrete structure, is one of the last remaining major facilities at West Valley to be torn down by EM. Its successful demolition, which is expected to be completed next summer, will further reduce environmental risks and position the site for the next phase in cleanup: soil remediation and demolition of remaining facilities.
-Contributor: Joseph Pillittere
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