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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The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management has expanded its radiological worker training program at the West Valley Demonstration Project to align with the site’s evolving cleanup mission. July 28, 2026July 28, 2026
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The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Environmental Management recently launched the demolition of a facility used in historic nuclear fuel reprocessing operations at the West Valley Demonstration Project. July 21, 2026July 21, 2026
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The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Environmental Management has brought down a building containing a ventilation system that once served the Main Plant Process Building. June 23, 2026June 23, 2026
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Three supervisors at the U.S. Department of Energy’s West Valley Demonstration Project were honored with the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve - Department of Defense’s Patriotic Employer Award, recognizing their exceptional support for employees who serve in the military’s reserve components, May 19, 2026May 19, 2026
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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
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.