West Valley Site Management Program
Western New York Nuclear Service Center
An aerial picture of the West Valley Site.
NYSERDA, on behalf of the state of New York, holds title to the Western New York Nuclear Service Center, a 3,300-acre parcel near the hamlet of West Valley in Cattaraugus Country, approximately 35 miles south of Buffalo
NYSERDA’s West Valley Site Management Program (WVSMP) addresses the Center's environment management challenges by implementing sound environmental, health and safety, and technical policies, and working to ensure that the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) honors its obligations under the West Valley Demonstration Project (WVDP) Act for the cleanup and long-term care of the site.
NYSERDA manages New York State's responsibilities at West Valley, including monitoring and maintaining the State-Licensed Disposal Area (SDA), a 15-acre shut-down disposal area. NYSERDA also manages the Retained Premises, which is a 3,100-acre property surrounding the WVDP and SDA. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) issued a license (CSF-1) for the WNYNSC in 1966 with Nuclear Fuel Services, Inc., a private company, licensed as operator, and NYSADA (a predecessor of NYSERDA), licensed as owner. NYSERDA became the sole licensee in 1982, when the majority of the facilities were transferred to DOE to conduct the WVDP. The NRC license can be found on the NRC ADAMS website 
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In 2014, an Aerial Radiological Survey [PDF] over the WNYNSC and the surrounding areas was completed to provide an updated picture of radiological conditions at the WNYNSC and surrounding areas. As a follow up to the survey, a soil sampling and dose assessment project was initiated to confirm that certain areas identified as having elevated levels of radioactivity slightly above background did not pose a health or safety concern. NYSERDA and their radiological support services contractor issued the Radiological Survey and Dose Assessment Report for the WNYNSC and Off-Site Areas in 2016 [PDF] and accompanying appendices.
Notice of Intent and Final Scope
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) are jointly preparing a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for Decommissioning and/or Long-Term Stewardship at the West Valley Demonstration Project and Western New York Nuclear Service Center (DOE/EIS-0226-S1) (SEIS). On February 21, 2018, NYSERDA and DOE published the Notice of Intent and Draft Scope, followed by a public scoping period, through which approximately 2,000 comments were received. New York State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) regulations require NYSERDA, following the public comment period, to issue a Final Scope for the SEIS. This Final Scope addresses a number of issues raised through the public scoping process, including potentially significant adverse impacts to be evaluated in the SEIS. NYSERDA and DOE will continue preparation of the Draft SEIS, expected to be issued publicly in 2023. A six-month public comment period, including public meetings, will follow the publication of the Draft SEIS.
Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the West Valley Site: Notice of Intent [PDF]
West Valley Citizen Task Force
In 1996, the West Valley Citizen Task Force was formed by NYSERDA and DOE to broaden public participation and aid in developing a closure option for the Center. Today, the Task Force continues to meet regularly discussing a variety of issues including future site use, long-term stewardship, and regulatory issues. In addition, the Task Force keeps Congressional Representatives from the Western New York Region informed about the ongoing issues at the West Valley Site.
Contact
9030-B Route 219
West Valley, New York 14171-9500
Phone: 716-942-9960
Fax: 716-942-9961
Paul Bembia, Program Director
716-942-9960 x4900
[email protected]
Brad Frank, Program Manager
716-942-9960 x4378
[email protected]
Andrea Mellon, Program Manager
716-942-9960 x4054
[email protected]