WEST VALLEY, N.Y. – EM’s West Valley Demonstration Project (WVDP) recently enhanced its security and safety by purchasing digital trunked radios that can assign frequency channels to various groups of users.

The new devices can communicate with all existing radios at WVDP, as well fire as departments, local and state police, and emergency medical services. WVDP programmed the new equipment to allow interaction with those emergency response organizations.

“Our old radios were more than 20 years old, and needed to be replaced,” said David Schuman, safeguards and security manager for CH2M HILL BWXT West Valley, EM’s cleanup contractor at the site. “These new radios enhance our security posture and improve officer safety. Improving our ability to share and communicate information more accurately will help us to better handle any situation that may arise.”

The site’s old radios needed to be replaced when frequencies, groups, and users changed. The new radios will provide a cost savings because they can be reprogrammed instead of replaced to accommodate such changes.

The new devices will improve communications because they are capable of interoperability, which allows communication between WVDP and emergency responders across the U.S.

“We have learned a lot over the years about the need for interoperability when it comes to emergencies and communications,” Schuman said. “These new radios will have a positive impact for WVDP’s security force, as well as employees and visitors.”