Main Plant Process Building

Once used to reprocess spent (used) nuclear fuel, the Main Plant Process Building at the West Valley Site is a five-story, heavily-shielded reinforced concrete structure. Some areas of the Main Plant contain residual radioactive contamination from past reprocessing activities. Removing equipment and debris and preparing the facility for demolition is a major focus of the present work scope. Through June 2011, WVES will:

• Deactivate and decontaminate ten cells (chambers) and several ancillary areas
• Process and package radioactive debris and ship offsite for disposal
• Prepare the structure for demolition

Radioactive Waste Management

Since 1999, the WVDP has shipped approximately 1.25 million cubic feet of low-level radioactive waste for offsite disposal. WVES is safely processing and disposing of the remaining legacy (stored) low-level radioactive waste and newly-generated waste. Key waste management activities include:

• Process and shipment of stored legacy low-level radioactive waste and highly-contaminated equipment and debris,
• Package and disposal of newly-generated waste resulting from decontamination and dismantlement work, and
• Continued onsite safe storage of waste with no current pathway for disposal, including 275 canisters of solidified high-level radioactive waste.

 Infrastructure Reduction

As the WVDP moves toward site closure, large-scale infrastructure reduction activities at the site have significantly reduced the number of structures on the site. From now through 2011, WVES expects to remove about 60 additional structures, further preparing the site for future long-term management and eventual closure. Major facilities to be removed during this period include:

• Storage facilities, including areas used for the storage of waste and materials associated with operation of the facility,
• Wastewater treatment facilities, and
• Waste transfer piping that connects the Main Plant to the Waste Tank Farm.

North Plateau Groundwater Plume

The WVDP is preparing to install a permeable treatment wall (PTW)near the leading edge of a contaminated groundwater plume at the WVDP site to capture Strontium-90 in the groundwater. This action is being taken to mitigate expansion of the plume. The wall is under design, with actual construction scheduled for 2010.

Testing of cation exchange capacities of zeolites for use in the PTW is being directed by University at Buffalo (UB) staff. Column studies are in progress at UB and in the site's environmental laboratory.

Waste Tank and Vault Drying System

Removal of residual liquids and drying the underground tanks and vaults were identified as best-management practice for near-term management of the underground Waste Tank Farm. The tanks were formerly used to store liquid radioactive waste. In June 2009, WVES awarded a contract for the design and construction of a tank and vault drying system.

High-level Waste Canister Storage System

The WVDP is reviewing storage facility options that would allow the relocation of the 275 canisters of high-level waste from the WVDP’s Main Plant. Movement of the canisters to alternate onsite storage is required to allow demolition of the Main Plant building.