The West Valley Demonstration Project (WVDP) is an approximate 150-acre area located 35 miles south of Buffalo, New York. The site is owned by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and is home to the only commercial spent nuclear fuel reprocessing facility to operate in the United States. Operating from 1963 to 1972, the site processed 640 metric tons of spent nuclear fuel and generated over 600,000 gallons of liquid high-level waste. In 1980, Congress passed the WVDP Act, which required DOE to conduct a high-level waste management demonstration project at the site and transport it to a federal repository for disposal.
WVDP News
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A Seneca Nation of Indians local grassroots group, the Cattaraugus Creek Water Walkerz, marked Earth Day at the West Valley Demonstration Project and raised awareness about protecting the creek watershed. May 5, 2026May 5, 2026
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Workers safely and successfully replaced 36 filters in a ventilation system for an underground waste-tank vault at the West Valley Demonstration Project, ensuring continued removal of airborne contaminants. April 28, 2026April 28, 2026
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West Valley Demonstration Project workers have finished the second of three phases to drill holes for subsurface soil sampling in and around the former Main Plant Process Building site to assess contamination levels and inform safeguards before completing further cleanup there. March 31, 2026March 31, 2026
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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, 2026February 25, 2026
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All hands were on deck recently for a unique sitewide training focused on conduct of operations, which establishes the core standards and operating philosophy that drive excellence across the West Valley Demonstration Project and broader U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management complex. February 10, 2026February 10, 2026
Federal Project Director
Bryan C. Bower is the Director of the West Valley Demonstration Project (WVDP) in West Valley, New York. The WVDP is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) managed cleanup of the only commercial nuclear fuel reprocessing facility operated in the United States. Prior to his appointment as the Project Director in July 2006, Bower held a number of positions at the project with increasing responsibilities.
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High-Level Budget Information
FY25 Request (in the thousands) | FY25 Enacted (in the thousands) | FY26 Request (in the thousands) | FY26 Enacted (in the thousands) | FY27 Request (in the thousands) |
| $90 | $98 | $90 | $97 | $98 |
For more information on the Office of Environmental Management's budget process and performance check out the Budget & Performance page.