Organization Recertifies West Valley System Supporting Sustainable Future

CH2M HILL BWXT West Valley (CHBWV) team members display the West Valley Demonstration Project's Environmental Management System Program certificate for recertification by the International Organization for Standardization. Pictured from left are Communications and External Affairs Manager Joseph Pillittere; Regulatory Strategy Manager Elizabeth Lowes; Regulatory Strategy Principal Environmental Regulatory Specialist Julie Sansone; and CHBWV President Jason Casper.

WEST VALLEY, N.Y. - The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has recertified the West Valley Demonstration Project's Environmental Management System, a management practice that allows organizations to conduct work in a systematic manner to minimize impacts of operations on the environment.

"The West Valley Demonstration Project conducts its work in a safe, compliant and cost-effective manner by integrating environmental requirements and pollution prevention into our work planning and execution," U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management (EM) West Valley Technical Services Assistant Director Jennifer Dundas said. "We also take actions to minimize the environmental impacts of our operations."

An independent, non-governmental international organization, ISO is the world's largest developer and publisher of international standards. The organization recertified West Valley under its prime contractor, CH2M HILL BWXT West Valley (CHBWV). An auditor on behalf of ISO commended West Valley for its engaged leadership team, excellent communication program and knowledgeable program managers and staff.

The standard for the Environmental Management System offers a structured approach to pressing concerns such as climate change, biodiversity loss and resource depletion, according to ISO. Organizations that adopt the standard signal a commitment to regulatory compliance and ongoing environmental improvement, which can result in tangible benefits, such as reduced waste, energy conservation and cost savings.

The ISO standard for West Valley's Environmental Management System requires greater accountability from leadership, involves more proactive environmental initiatives, expects improved communication both internally and externally, and entails more rigorous environmental risk evaluations. In addition, it employs policy development, planning, implementation, checking and corrective action, and management review to achieve its environmental and operational goals.

"This is a team effort that involves all site organizations as we strive to go above and beyond compliance and continuously improve our processes and operations to minimize environmental impacts," CHBWV Regulatory Strategy Manager Elizabeth Lowes said. "We are committed to performing our work in a safe and environmentally sound manner, and integrating safety, environmental, and regulatory requirements into everything we do."

-Contributor: Joseph Pillittere