Getting Involved with the SEIS for the West Valley Site


Public involvement, including the submittal of comments, is important to the development of the Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for the West Valley Site.


Scoping

The purpose of scoping is to encourage public involvement and to solicit public comments on the proposed scope of the SEIS for the West Valley Site. DOE and NYSERDA invited interested parties to participate in the scoping process to help identify the range of reasonable alternatives and the environmental issues to be analyzed.

The public scoping period for the SEIS for the West Valley Site was originally scheduled to run from February 21, 2018, through April 23, 2018. The agencies extended the scoping period to May 25, 2018. Comments on the scope of the SEIS could be submitted verbally or in writing at the public meetings listed below. In addition, comments on the scope of the SEIS could be submitted in writing by U.S. mail, email, or the comment form on this SEIS website as listed below.

By U.S. mail to:

DOE Document Manager
Mr. Martin Krentz
West Valley Demonstration Project
U.S. Department of Energy
10282 Rock Springs Road, AC-DOE
West Valley, New York 14171-9799

Using the Comment Form on this website.


Both oral and written comments will be considered and given equal weight by DOE and NYSERDA regardless of how submitted.

Schedule for Public Comment Submittal

The public scoping period ended on May 25, 2018. Comments had to be provided by May 25, 2018, to ensure consideration in preparation of the Draft SEIS. DOE and NYSERDA will consider all comments received by that date in preparing the Draft SEIS. The agencies will consider late comments to the extent practicable.

Confidentiality of Public Comments

Before including your address, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, please be advised that your entire comment—including your personal identifying information (excluding telephone numbers)—may be made publicly available. If you wish for the agencies to withhold your name and/or other personally identifiable information, please state this prominently at the beginning of your comment. You may also submit comments anonymously.

Public Meetings on Scoping the Draft SEIS

DOE and NYSERDA held three public scoping meetings for the SEIS for the West Valley Site on the following dates:

Date Location
Monday, March 19, 2018 West Valley Volunteer Hose Company, Inc., Firemen’s Memorial Hall and Training, 9091 Route 240, West Valley, NY 14171, in the Main Hall
Tuesday, March 20, 2018 Erie Community College, City Campus, Post Office Building, 121 Ellicott Street, Buffalo, NY 14203, in the Minnie Gillette Auditorium
Wednesday, March 21, 2018 Cattaraugus Council Chambers, 12837 Route 438, Irving, NY 14081

Registration began at 6 p.m. DOE and NYSERDA representatives were available for informal discussions before and after the presentations. Presentations began at 7 p.m. After the presentations, attendees had 10 minutes to ask clarifying questions on the presentations. Then, there was an opportunity for the public to provide comments on the scope of the SEIS to DOE and NYSERDA representatives.

Commenters were scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis. Requests to speak at the public meeting could be made in advance, and many individuals signed up at the door to speak. Each speaker was allowed five minutes to present comments unless more time was requested and available. Comments were recorded by a court reporter and will become part of the scoping meeting record. Written comments were also accepted at the meeting. Commenters were encouraged to provide written versions of their oral comments for the record.

The meetings were facilitated by an impartial moderator. Time was provided for meeting attendees to ask clarifying questions. Materials from the meeting are available on the Documents page.

Draft SEIS

DOE and NYSERDA will consider comments received during the public scoping period in defining the alternatives and issues to be analyzed in detail in the Draft SEIS, which is planned for issuance by the end of 2020.

Issuance of the Draft SEIS will be followed by a 6-month public comment period, including at least three public hearings.

For More Information

To submit comments, ask questions, or request to be added to the SEIS mailing list, please use the Comment Form or contact SEISWestValleySite@emcbc.doe.gov.