WEST VALLEY, N.Y. - EM and cleanup contractor CH2M HILL BWXT West Valley (CHBWV) recently installed a long-reach arm on an excavator for ease of access in the demolition of the Main Plant Process Building at the West Valley Demonstration Project (WVDP).
The new arm extends the excavator’s reach from 50 feet to 86 feet, allowing the operator to get to the plant’s highest point of 79 feet. Crews also added a new tilt cab to the excavator to improve the operator’s view when performing high-reach work.
“Planning and preparations for Main Plant demolition have been going on for two decades," EM WVDP Director Bryan Bower said. “Procuring demolition and support equipment for this work scope is an important element in our success; and these upgrades will make sure this piece of equipment continues to perform its intended function."
The excavator was used in the successful takedown of the 10,000-square-foot Vitrification Facility and other support structures surrounding the Main Plant.
“When performing any work, it’s important to have the right equipment to do the job safely and compliantly," CHBWV Facility Disposition Operations Manager Scott Chase said. “The modifications we’ve done will further improve its capability to demolish the Main Plant safely, efficiently, and compliantly."
Source: U.S. Dept. of Energy, Office of Environmental Management
