By Jeff Martin
For many WNY’ers, the West Valley Demonstration Project in Ashford has long been shrouded in mystery for locals, passersby, and nearby business owners; despite the perceived mystic, there’s been a lot happening there, and a lot more to happen in the future. At least one local company believes that local WNY businesses might be overlooking valuable opportunities to bid and engage in work at the site.
American Demolition and Nuclear Decommissioning Inc., (dba: American DND) aims to alter this perception with a progressive “Community and Business Outreach” plan. American DND is sponsoring an introductory meet and greet and business networking event at the West Valley Volunteer Fire Department Banquet Hall, 9085 Route 240, West Valley, on Wednesday afternoon January 24, from 2-6 pm. Any Local WNY Businesses, Suppliers, and Contractors who are interested in learning more about the project and meeting with American DND Reps are invited to attend. American DND is an Ellicottville based Company which has been working at the WVDP site since 2011. (www.AmericanDND.com ).
The West Valley Demonstration Project, formerly the nation’s sole commercial reprocessing plant for spent nuclear fuel from 1966 to 1972, has undergone significant changes since being abandoned by Nuclear Fuel Services.
The West Valley Demonstration Project Act of 1980, approved by Congress and signed into law by President Jimmy Carter, set the stage for crucial developments on the 150-acre site. These include solidifying 600,000 gallons of radioactive liquid waste and initiating the deconstruction of the main plant process building—a 30-month process currently underway. The US-DOE and NYSERDA are responsible for the cleanup, oversight, and management of the Facility.
The US-DOE is close to completing the first Phase 1A of the decommissioning work by cleaning up and demolishing most of the buildings down to grade.
Despite these strides, more work lies ahead. The United States Department of Energy plans to bid the next Phase 1B within the next year, involving the removal of below-ground parts of the main plant process building. This ambitious endeavor, expected to commence in 2025 or 2026, comes with a substantial budget, currently projected in the $1Billion to $3 billion range over the next 10 years. More information can be found about the WVDP project and about the next phase of bidding here: www.wv.doe.gov or www.emcbc.doe.gov/seb/wvdpphase1b.
The types of work and business opportunities available in the next Phase 1B include, but are not limited to: Plumbing, Electrical, Carpentry, General & Civil Construction, Sheet Piling, Shoring, Excavations, Welding and fabrication, equipment rentals, providing Safety Supplies and Personnel Protective Equipment (PPE), Office supplies, copiers, and general business supplies, Specialty Engineering Consulting and other ‘professional’ Services, just to name a few.
American DND invites all, local businesses and contractors to attend the meet and greet, where they can network, meet ADND Reps, and will receive additional information about the West Valley Demonstration Project, its current progress, and future plans. American DND emphasizes the need for local companies to educate themselves on bidding procedures, government requirements, and the application process.
“So many people have no idea what’s going on out there; yet it will likely become one of the largest environmental cleanup projects in WNY” says Bill Schaab, Sr. Vice President of American DND. “What’s more unfortunate is that there are many, many businesses in Western New York that could benefit from the work there. All they have to do is educate themselves on how to bid and how to satisfy government requirements and the application process. It’s a way for businesses to say, ‘Hey, we’re here, we’re ready and willing to work’.” By helping educate the business and contracting community about the work there, American DND hopes to help keep the money being spent by the Government in the local region, with more work performed by local businesses and contractors.
Looking ahead, the West Valley Demonstration Project has plans to address an underground strontium-90 plum emanating from the building. The site’s location has always sparked speculation and controversy, particularly concerning its proximity to the waterway. With underground radioactive hazards in steel tanks, the challenge lies in determining the appropriate course of action, given its location on a plateau above Cattaraugus Creek, which ultimately flows into Lake Erie.
Federal officials have acknowledged that leaving the steel tanks in place and excavating only parts of the trenches is a potential option, considering studies indicating that some remaining radioactive materials have a maximum half-life of 30 years.
For more information, visit the website above.