Chuck Roesch, left, and Marty Regan, employees with EM West Valley Demonstration Project cleanup contractor CH2M HILL BWXT West Valley, conduct focused sampling as part of a closure plan for a former waste storage area site
Chuck Roesch, left, and Marty Regan, employees with EM West Valley Demonstration Project cleanup contractor CH2M HILL BWXT West Valley, conduct focused sampling as part of a closure plan for a former waste storage area site.

WEST VALLEY, N.Y. – EM and its cleanup contractor at the West Valley Demonstration Project (WVDP) are working to close a former storage area for hazardous mixed waste, thereby reducing the site’s Cleanup footprint and helping protect the environment.

A team of employees from CH2M HILL BWXT West Valley (CHBWV) and a subcontracted driller recently finished soil sampling at the former waste storage site. The sampling is required by a closure plan in accordance with the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, a public law that creates the framework for the proper management of hazardous and nonhazardous solid waste.

The team is awaiting laboratory results from the samples to determine whether the former waste storage site can be closed.

A team at EM’s West Valley Demonstration Project worked efficiently to complete sampling of a former waste storage area site in half the time planned.

A team at EM’s West Valley Demonstration Project worked efficiently to complete sampling of a former waste storage area site in half the time planned. Pictured from left are K.T. Simmons, J.J. Nosal, Marty Regan, Chuck Roesch, Dave Baldwin, Terry Sullivan, Mike Weyand, and Vince Sabin. Team members not pictured include Hugh Foster, Doug Ruszczyk, Paul Fintak, Mike Pendl and Dave Klenk.

The crew completed the sampling in half the time scheduled after working with regulators to develop and implement a plan to evaluate Methyl ethyl ketone, a common laboratory contaminant that had been detected in two locations at the former waste storage site following initial sampling.

That plan included sampling at designated depths for the liquid substance to determine its extent. Methyl ethyl ketone is used as a solvent and to make plastics, textiles and paints.

“The team was able to complete all 21 sample locations within one day,” said David Klenk, CHBWV regulatory strategy environmental compliance and monitoring manager, referring to the second round of sampling. “Everyone was well versed and prepared for their respective job functions, which allowed the whole project to operate safely, effectively and efficiently.”