IMPACTS OF PROPOSED FUNDING CUT FOR WEST VALLEY UNCLEAR

While the Department of Energy has proposed a significant funding cut for the West Valley Demonstration Project next year, DOE and site cleanup contractor CH2M Hill-B&W West Valley, LLC, are holding off for now on comment on the potential impacts such a cut would have on cleanup progress and the site’s workforce. In its Fiscal Year 2013 budget request, DOE is proposing to spend $48 million, down from the site’s current funding level of $65 million, with the bulk of the proposed cut to fall on nuclear facility D&D efforts. When asked about the potential impacts of such a cut yesterday, acting DOE cleanup chief David Huizenga told WC Monitor, “We’re going to have to work closely with the site—feds and the contractors—to understand what the impacts are going to be. It’s a little too early to tell right now.” CHBWV plans to “evaluate how we would continue to meet the mission for cleanup and the regulatory requirements at West Valley with the least impact to the workforce and the community,” contractor spokeswoman Lynette Bennett said.