The U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Environmental Management and its cleanup contractor at the West Valley Demonstration Project have reached another milestone by demolishing two storage vaults. February 25, 2026
Office of Environmental Management
February 25, 2026
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Before and after views of the demolition of two storage vaults at the West Valley Demonstration Project: In the first frame, workers use heavy equipment to reduce the size of one of the vaults. They loaded the debris in waste containers and safely shipped them offsite to a licensed disposal facility. The second frame features a view of the storage vault demolition area after the completion of the work.
WEST VALLEY, N.Y. — The U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Environmental Management (EM) and its cleanup contractor at the West Valley Demonstration Project have reached another milestone by demolishing two storage vaults. Removing these obsolete structures continues to reshape the site’s landscape while eliminating risks associated with legacy waste.
“These accomplishments show how the West Valley team continues to meet federal responsibilities by reducing risks, driving efficiencies and positioning the site for future cleanup,” EM West Valley Office of Project Management Assistant Director Stephen Bousquet said.
The reinforced concrete vaults each weighed 673,000 pounds and measured about 63 feet long, 15 feet wide and 7 feet high.
More than two decades ago, cleanup crews removed mobilization and transfer pumps from West Valley’s underground high-level waste tanks, sealed them in containment boxes and stored them in the vaults recently torn down. Mobilization pumps kept tank contents circulating, while transfer pumps moved material between tanks.
Last summer, team members pulled the pumps from storage, grouted them for placement in shielded containers and shipped them offsite for disposal. This left the vaults empty and no longer needed.
“Our team planned and executed this work safely and on schedule,” said Daniel Way, Deactivation and Decommissioning manager for contractor West Valley Cleanup Alliance. “We continue to apply innovative cleanup strategies that protect workers, advance progress and deliver strong value for taxpayers.”
-Contributor: Joseph Pillittere
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