West Valley — The West Valley Demonstration Project is one of the sites of the US Department of Energy’s Environmental Management Agency (EM), highlighting major achievements and advances in environmental cleanup over the past year.
In 2022, West Valley will begin the 2022 priority demolition of the main plant process building and the removal of the last auxiliary support structure (load-in facility), and the permeable treatment wall soil and structure removal project. Has completed.
Bryan C. Bower, WVDP Project Director, said the site’s dedicated workforce will complete the safe and intentional deactivation of the remaining cells within the main plant process building, helping the site clean up. We said it would pave the way for the next chapter: controlled demolition.
“This is the culmination of more than 20 years of work executed safely and compliantly by a seasoned West Valley demonstration project team,” he said.
WVDP commenced controlled demolition of the main plant process building on September 21st. Demolition is expected to take about 30 months to complete. The building is one of the last major facilities remaining on site, and the successful demolition of this facility will further reduce environmental risks and allow WVDP to proceed to the next phase of cleanup.
Over the past 20 years, our employees have done significant work to prepare the MPPB for demolition in a manner that protects human health and the surrounding environment. This included his over 98% reduction in pollution by removing over 7 miles of contaminated piping and over 50 tons of contaminated equipment.
Demolition of the loading facility — the last of the seven sub-support structures demolished — was completed earlier this year. This achievement brings the total number of structures DOE has removed at his WVDP sites to 69.
The 4,500-square-foot, two-story building has served several purposes over the years, but was no longer needed for EM’s cleaning missions on site.
In connection with a project to build a unique groundwater treatment system called Permeable Walls, workers have completed the restoration of areas and structures that had been cleared of soil.
Upgraded rail lines were used to safely transport 300 dirt containers and 131 debris containers from this project. Both dirt and debris containers were sent from the West Valley to EnergySolutions for disposal. These shipments add to our safe transportation record of over 25,000 miles from January to May.
Bower said he was proud to be part of a team that prides itself on delivering results in a safe and compliant manner.
“Our achievements on this project would not be possible without the dedication and talent of our employees. We look forward to continuing to work together,” he added.
The progress made in 2022 will set the site up for even greater success in the future. EM officials remain focused on accomplishing that mission safely, effectively, and at a practical cost to taxpayers.
DOE-EM has released a site-wide report. It can be found at energy.gov/em and details achievements across the mission scope.
