ML101550356
| ML101550356 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | West Valley Demonstration Project, P00M-032 |
| Issue date: | 05/26/2010 |
| From: | West Valley Citizen Task Force |
| To: | Triay I NRC/FSME, US Dept of Energy (DOE) |
| References | |
| Download: ML101550356 (5) | |
Text
WV CTF THE WEST VALLEY CITIZEN TASK FORCE May 26, 2010 Dr. Ines Triay Assistant Secretary for Environmental Management EM-1/Forrestal Building U.S. Department of Energy 1000 Independence Ave., S.W.
Washington, DC 20585 RE: West Valley Citizen Task Force Resolution- Concerning Funding for the West Valley Demonstration Project
Dear Dr. Triay,
Enclosed please find the May 26,- 2010,-Reso0luion of the West ValIe"y Citizen Tiask Force.
The. Resolution is intended to commend the United States Department of Energy and the New York State Energy Research & Development Authority on their high level of cooperation in recent years and in releasing the Record of Decision,and New York State Environmental Quality Review Act Finding Statement for Decommissioning and/or Long-Term Stewardship at the West Valley Demonstration Project and Western New Yo0rk Nuclear Service Center. It is also intended to highlight the pressing need for sufficient and stable funding to accomplish the Phase 1 actions and conduct the necessary studies to properly inform Phase 2 decisionmaking.
The West Valley Citizen Task Force understands that DOE is considering shifting some American Resource and Recovery Act Funds from West Valley and other sites in orderto, complete work at the Brookhaven site in 2011. Should this occur, the Citizen Task Force, sincerely hopes that the completion of Brookhaven work will-free significant DOE Non-defense Environmental Management funds for West Valley at the level necessary to accomplish the work contemplated in the Record of Decision and in a manner which will protect the citizens and environment affected by the West Valley Dernon'strati6n Project and Western New York Nuclear Service Center.
West Valley Citizen Task Force c/oThe LogueGroup PO Box 270270- West Hartford, CT 06107 arnq-5i-qi ?2
d The Citizen Task Force would also like to take this opportunity to invite you to meet with us at one of our monthly meetings which are held the fourth Wednesday of each month-from 6:30,to 9:00 PM.--
Sincerely,
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Governor David Patersorn' :-
Congressm an '.* Brian Higgins ** ,*-..
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Co ngressm an C h risto p he r Lee . .. ; . .. , ...
Congressman Charles Rangel , ...
Congressman John Hall Congressman Jerrold Nad~ler Congressma n Daniel Maffei ...
Congessman Jose Serrano .. " . . . ..
Co gressm a~n G ary Ackerm a~n.. .. ' " . . .. ' " " ' - .... " : "":.....". .. .' ..
Congressman Gregory Meeks""
Congresswoman Yvette Clark" Congresswoman N~ita Lowey ... ;
Francis Murray, NYSERDA' "`..
Bryan C. Bowe r, Director WVDP. .... ,.: .,":. - ."
PaulIJ. Bembia, Director WVSMP. .:.: -.. . .,
ChadGlenn, Senior Program Manager USNRC . v,...-:, , ... * . ,
Paul Giardina, USEPA', Region,2,,- .. ,... .* *.i: .. -
Pat Concannon, NYSDEC ., .. : .. :._:.......:
Jerry Collins, NYSDOH' West Valley Citi7en Tak Fnrrp
WV
..CTF THE WEST VALLEY CITIZEN TASK FORCE Resolution Concernine Funding Adopted May 26, 2010 Whereas, The West Valley Citizen Task Force (CTF).was charged to develop recommendations to New York State Energy, Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and United States Department of Energy (DOE) regarding the West Valley Demonstration Project (WVDP) and the Western New York Nuclear Service Center; Whereas, WVDP is the most significant and substantial non-defense related radioactive cleanup site managed by DOE; Whereas, the recently released Record of Decision (ROD) commits DOE to. an ambitious schedule of remediation in Phase 1to address both contained and uncontrolled releases ofl,:
radioactivity to the environment through the demolition of contaminated struictures"ad -.. "
facilities at the site and implementation of interim remedial actioný;, -
Whereas, the CTF congratulates DOE and NYSERDA on release of the ROD'and ýNew York State Environmental Quality Review Act Findings Statement and recent cooperation between the agencies; Whereas, NYSERDA has identified in the Environmental Impact Statement and Findings Statement the need to develop and implement a number of site investigations and studies to define remedial actions and eliminate uncertainties with respect to issues regarding control, containment and/or exhumation of site wastes; Whereas, in its 1998 Final Report and in comments on the draft Environmental Impact Statement, the CTF has stated that, due to the potential impacts of radioactive contamination on the environment and on the Great Lakes and the health, safety, welfare and economy of the people and communities of Western New York, the CTF's end state vision for the West Valley Demonstration Project and Western New York Nuclear Service Center is one of unrestricted release, and that all waste be safely stored above ground until such-time as it can be,'..
permanently disposed; West Valley Citizen Task Force c/o The Logue Group PO Box 270270- West Hartford, CT 06107 RG(IAI1 A 17
Whereas, on February 26,:2010,.the two Senators and fifteen. Representatives of~the New York Congressional Delegation wroteDOE Secretary Steven Chu supporting-full removal:of all, radioactive and hazardous materials and noting that questions have been raised concerning the validity.bf scientific analysis on the 16ng term'im pacts.,
Whereas, the United States Environmental Protection Agency Region 2 wrote.DOE on March 1, 2010, expressing concerns regarding the potential long term storage of high-level radioactive waste, Greater Than Class C Waste, Spent Nuclear Fuel and other long-lived radioactive waste at the site and requesting studies be designed to ensure the long term storage of these wastes would meet applicable EPA standards; Whereas, DOE has indicated a willingness to conduct site investigations and studies in response to the request of NYSERDA and othe stakeholders, Whereas, the Environmental Impact Statement and ROD assume funding of approximately $75 million per year on average over 10 years to complete the work and studies envisioned in Phase 1 of the ROD to implement these remedial actions and studies which will better define and expedite decisions related to Phase 2 site work; Whereas, maintaining a skilled workforce and healthy local economy is essential to WVDP and the region for both Phase 1 and Phase 2 work; Whereas, the base funding over the last decade has declined to $60 million per year and has been supplemented by approximately $75 million in American Resource and Recovery Act (ARRA) funds for 2009 through 2011; Whereas, the CTF understands that DOE is considering reducing the WVDP ARRA allocation by
$11 Million to expedite work at other facilities, that the President's 2013. Fiscal Year Budget proposes $60 million in funding and DOE has not yet released a Phase 1 ten year plan for funding and project scheduling; and Whereas, no timetable has been identified-for the replacement of this non-recurring ARRA funding or sufficient baseline funding of at least $75 million per year needed at the WVDP site to accomplish the necessary work and studies in Phase 1.
Now Therefore, The CTF believes that the proposed decommissioning activities in Phase 1 are significant steps in remediating the contamination at the site and moving towards unrestricted release and should be implemented forthwith; The CTF endorses the commissioning of studies and analyses, with full public input, which.fully examine uncertainties and better inform decisionmaking including the feasibility, cost and Weet Vallev Citizen Task Force
technologies associated with exhumation, temporary safe above ground storage, and ultimate transportation for disposal of wastes whih'-Will result in unrestr'icted reeese of the site;-
That performing the work and conducting.the studies within the .10-year assessment period of the ROD can only be completed with sufficient and stable funding at least at the level assumed in the-EIS of $750:million.oVer the:10 years;Land .
That DOE, NYSERDA, and the New York Congressional delegation should fully fund this work, now be it Resolved, That the West Valley Citizen Task Force supports the above as significant and important steps towards its goal of sitewide removal which require necessary and stable budget of state and federal funds.
The West Valley Citizen Task Force,
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I.X West'Vallev"Citiz'en Task FPorce