West Valley Demonstration Project

 

Dashboard

  • The West Valley Demonstration Project (WVDP), formerly Western New York Nuclear Service Center, was established through the West Valley Demonstration Project Act of 1980. The Act requires that the Department of Energy (DOE) is responsible for solidifying the high-level waste, disposing of waste created by the solidification, and decommissioning the facilities used in the process. The land and facilities are not owned by DOE. Rather, the project premises (200 acres) are part of the 3,300-acre Western New York Service Center. The Center is the property of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). After DOE's responsibilities under the Act are complete, the Act requires that the premises be returned to New York State.

  • As the host community, the Town of Ashford:

    • Expects to be named as a participating agency in all decision making processes.

    • Expects there to be no waste left on sites as the final disposition of the WVDP.

    • Expects that any action made by DOE, NYSERDA, or its contractors that any decision they make that affects the Town, (changes to infrastructure, changes to security) be discussed with the town.

    • Insists that the WVDP is not suitable for any long term storage of any hazardous or radioactive wastes.

  • Town of Ashford, NY

    Cattaraugus County, NY

  • Seneca Nation of Indians

  • West Valley Citizens Task Force

    • Mission: The Task Force meets regularly to discuss a variety of issues regarding facility closure and long-term management. The mission of the Task Force has expanded into other areas including future site use, long-term stewardship, and regulatory issues.

    • Contact: Heike Jacob, Facilitator –Email: heike@highland-planning.com

  • CH2M HILL BWXT West Valley, LLC (CHBWV) – Primary Cleanup Contractor

    • CHBWV is made up of CH2M HILL Constructors Inc., Babcock & Wilcox Technical Services Group, Inc., and Environmental Chemical Corporation.

  • Federal Government

    State Government

    Local Government

  • West Valley Demonstration Project Ashford Office Complex

    • Phone: 716-942-3235

    Town of Ashford Supervisor’s Office

Site Details

SITE BUDGET

FY 2025 Enacted FY 2026 House FY 2026 Senate
89,880 89,880 89,880

(Non-Defense Environmental Cleanup. Amounts in thousands of dollars. Click here for the latest site budget.)

Bryan Bower

Director, West Valley Demonstration Project

Cleanup Issues

    • Facility Deactivation and Decommissioning

    • Transuranic and Solid Waste Disposition

  • In March 2024, the Office of Environmental Management released a Strategic Vision for 2024-2034.

    Planned Cleanup Scope 2024–2034

    Work underway at West Valley is now focused on completing demolition of the MPPB. By 2025, DOE expects to complete the removal of the above grade portion of the MPPB. By 2025, DOE and NYSERDA intend to make an integrated decision on the path forward for the Phase 2 decommissioning activities and/or long-term stewardship of the WNYNSC. Phase 2 decommissioning decisions will address the four underground tanks, the two waste disposal areas, the non-source area of the groundwater plume, and several other facilities.

    The full West Valley Strategic Vision is available here.

 
Photo courtesy of Energy.gov

Photo courtesy of Energy.gov

Updated January 2026.
Information in this profile is sourced from DOE, NNSA, and the site’s online resources.