About DOE Button Organization Button News Button Contact Us Button
US Department of Energy Seal and Header Photo
Science and Technology Button Energy Sources Button Energy Efficiency Button The Environment Button Prices and Trends Button National Security Button Safety and Health Button
Office of Environmental Management
  You are here: Skip Navigation LinksEM Home > Resources > Related Publications > Nuclear Age Timeline, September 1993 (Historical) > The 80's > October 1980

Office of Environmental Management
October 1980

The West Valley Demonstration Project Act of 1980 directed DOE to construct a high-level nuclear waste solidification demonstration at the West Valley Plant in New York. The only commercial nuclear fuel reprocessing plant in the United States to be operated, the West Valley Plant recovered uranium and plutonium from spent nuclear fuel from 1966-1972 and produced nearly 600,000 gallons of high-level nuclear waste that was stored at the plant. The vitrification facility, which immobilizes liquid and sludge-type waste by dissolving it in molten glass, is scheduled to begin operation in 1996 and to complete operation in 1998. The second phase of the demonstration, decontamination and decommissioning, will continue after the vitrification phase is complete. Two other commercial reprocessing plants, one in Morris, Illinois and one in Barnwell, South Carolina, have never been operated.

The White House FirstGov.gov E-gov IQ FOIA
U.S. Department of Energy | 1000 Independence Ave., SW | Washington, DC 20585
1-800-dial-DOE | f/202-586-4403

Web Policies | No Fear Act | Site Map | Privacy | Phone Book | Employment