This EIS evaluates the potential environmental impacts of the range of reasonable alternatives to decommission and/or maintain long-term stewardship at WNYNSC. The alternatives analyzed in the EIS include the Sitewide Removal Alternative, the Sitewide Close-In-Place Alternative, the Phased Decisionmaking Alternative (Preferred Alternative), and the No Action Alternative. The analysis and information contained in the EIS are intended to assist DOE and NYSERDA with the consideration of environmental impacts prior to making decommissioning or long-term management decisions.

DOE issued a draft EIS in January 1996. Subsequently, in March 2001, DOE announced its intent to revise the strategy for completing this EIS. DOE explained, "Under the revised strategy, DOE will prepare and issue a revised draft EIS for public comment focusing on DOE’s actions to decontaminate West Valley Demonstration Project (WVDP) facilities and manage WVDP wastes controlled by DOE under the West Valley Demonstration Project Act (WVDP Act; Public Law 96–368)." That March 2001 Notice of Intent also announced that DOE intended to prepare a separate EIS for decommissioning and/or long-term stewardship of the WVDP and the Western New York Nuclear Service Center. Then, in November 2001, DOE announced its intent to prepare an EIS for decommissioning and long-term stewardship at WVDP and Western New York Service Center. In November 2008, DOE issued a revised draft EIS (DOE/EIS-0226) for decommissioning and long-term stewardship.

For more information on DOE/EIS-0226-S1: Decommissioning and/or Long-Term Stewardship at the West Valley Demonstration Project and Western New York Nuclear Service Center, see: www.energy.gov/node/3340394.