WEST VALLEY
Groups offer help with comments on N-site cleanup
As a list of public hearings was announced Monday, several groups stepped forward to help the public prepare comments on the environmental impact studies for cleaning up and monitoring the nuclear wastes and facilities at a former commercial nuclear fuel reprocessing facility near West Valley.
The Coalition on West Valley Nuclear Wastes will review an updated draft environmental impact study during a public meeting from 7 to 9 p. m. Tuesday in the Concord Town Hall at 86 Franklin Street in Springville.
Discussion will center on recent cost studies of full exhumation and assessments of the buried wastes, the erosion potential and public participation in the environmental review.
Also, the Citizens Environmental Coalition, the Nuclear Information and Resource Service, and the Center for Health, Environment and Justice are providing “Real Costs of Nuclear Waste Cleanup,” a study available at www.besafenet.com . For information, call Diane D’Arrigo at (301) 270-6477, Ext. 16, or Anne Rabe at (518) 732-4538. The U. S. Department of Energy released the draft environmental statement in November describing the agency’s preferred option for phased decision-making for cleanup and long-term stewardship over wastes on the site. It also outlines two alternatives, sitewide removal and sitewide close-in-place, along with a fourth option: no action.
“Decisions made with this impact process will affect the future of the 40-year-old West Valley facility and its radioactive waste,” said announcement by the Coalition on West Valley Nuclear Wastes.
A series of public hearings will be held to receive comments on the document. The first hour of each hearing will be devoted to public registration, viewing exhibits and examining informational materials. A presentation on the draft statement will follow. Finally, the public will be given a chance to provide oral comments, which will be recorded.
The first hearing will be held from 6:30 to 9:30 p. m. March 30 in the Crowne Plaza Albany, at State and Lodge Streets, in Albany. A second hearing is scheduled in Western New York on Seneca Nation of Indians territory from 6 to 9 p. m. March 31 in the William Seneca Building, 12847 Route 438 in Irving.
Two more Western New York hearings are scheduled to follow: from 6:30 to 9:30 p. m. April 1 in the Ashford Office Complex, 9030 Route 219 in Ashford, and April 2 in the City Campus auditorium of Erie Community College at 121 Ellicott St. in Buffalo.
Written comments will be accepted at the hearings or by fax, e-mail or U. S. mail through June 8. They may be mailed to Catherine Bohan, EIS Document Manager, West Valley Demonstration Project, U. S. Department of Energy, P. O. Box 2368, Germantown, MD 20874.
Submissions also can be e-mailed to www.westvalleyeis.com or sent by toll-free fax to (866) 306-9094. All submissions should be marked “Draft Decommissioning and/or Long-Term Stewardship EIS Comments.”
For information on the draft statement, visit www.westvalleyeis.com or www.gc.energy.gov/NEPA .
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