WEST VALLEY, N.Y. - Crews successfully removed a steel penthouse structure from atop the Vitrification Facility earlier this month at the West Valley Demonstration Project (WVDP) site, moving EM closer to finishing demolition of the building.
“Planning and execution of this work evolution by the WVDP team went very well," WVDP Director Bryan Bower said of EM and cleanup contractor CH2M HILL BWXT West Valley. “They continue to make excellent progress on the Vitrification Facility demolition in a safe and compliant manner."
The penthouse contained twin 52-ton hoists used to open and close a 100-ton, 9-inch-thick steel shield door workers pulled out in July. That door provided access to a room used for maintenance of cranes and storage. Workers also took out three cranes and other equipment inside the facility this month.
Remaining work in the teardown project - scheduled for completion in September - includes demolition of ancillary rooms and structures that supported vitrification operations.
The Vitrification Facility was used to solidify 600,000 gallons of high-level liquid radioactive waste from 1996 to 2002. That waste was generated from spent fuel reprocessing that took place from 1966 to 1972.
Source: U.S. Dept. of Energy, Office of Environmental Management
