Environmental Policy
BWX Technologies, Inc.'s (BWXT) Environmental Health and Safety Policy sets forth our commitment to conduct our business in an environmentally-responsible manner. We expect the same commitment from our vendors and suppliers.
Our large manufacturing sites implement Environmental Management Systems to ensure compliance with our Environmental Policy and Sustainability Goals. These systems include defined roles and responsibilities and require training, recordkeeping, problem identification and resolution, emergency preparedness and self-assessments, all of which are focused on keeping risks to employees and the environment as low as reasonably achievable. Each site leader is responsible for the System’s implementation.
Our manufacturing sites promote and conduct the recycling of materials at every level of our business - from our corporate offices through to our production processes. All waste generated that cannot be reused is managed, segregated and dispositioned in manners that minimize their impacts on the environment. These waste streams from our businesses and our production and packaging facilities are dispositioned using the latest environmentally-sound techniques and methods.
WATER CONSERVATION
While water is not a significant aspect of our global activities, it is certainly true that water is a critical resource. As global citizens, we are committed to managing our water usage responsibly.
ENERGY AND GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS
Tracking and managing energy consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is important from both a business and an environmental perspective. We voluntarily measure and track our GHG emissions and have developed energy consumption reduction strategies at each of our operations - all are on track to achieve significant reductions over the next few years. Since 2010, we have tracked GHG emissions at our U.S. facilities, and we evaluate opportunities to address such emissions.
HAZARDOUS WASTE GENERATION
Pollution prevention is promoted and integrated throughout all aspects of our operations. Although hazardous waste generation is not a significant part of our business, we constantly evaluate and reduce hazardous waste generation wherever possible.
NON-HAZARDOUS SOLID WASTE GENERATION
BWXT continues to demonstrate aggressive landfill avoidance and adhere to recycling programs for non-hazardous solid waste generated at our facilities. In all aspects of our business, we minimize waste and maximize reuse and recycling opportunities through routine evaluations of our operations.
Greenhouse Gas Reduction
We believe nuclear energy is a reliable and clean energy source. It provides electricity to millions of homes while dramatically reducing greenhouse gas emissions. BWXT Canada Ltd. (BWXT Canada) set new records in profitability while supporting Ontario as the first jurisdiction in North America to fully eliminate coal as a source of electricity generation in 2017. BWXT Canada’s roles in Ontario Power Generation’s Darlington Refurbishment and Bruce Power’s Life-Extension Program are indicative of our clean energy commitment.
In 2018, BWXT Canada contracted with Bruce Power to design and supply 32 steam generators for Bruce Power’s Major Component Replacement Project; together, these generators will allow the eight-unit site to provide over 30 percent of Ontario’s electricity through 2064.
Environmental Cleanup Services
BWXT is a leading provider of environmental management services to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and is able to draw upon its 30+ years of relevant experience. We are committed to cleaning up sites containing legacy radioactive materials across the U.S. by using a wide range of services that include decontamination, decommissioning, waste management, remediation and restoration.
Cleanup sites where we conduct operations include the Portsmouth and Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plants, the Los Alamos Legacy Cleanup Contract, the Savannah River Site, the West Valley Demonstration Project, and the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP).
BWXT previously served as the project operating contractor for the DOE’s DUF6 Conversion Project - in that role, we were responsible for converting more than 800,000 metric tons of depleted uranium hexafluoride into depleted uranium oxide.
The Company also received four prestigious awards from the National Safety Council while managing the Advanced Mixed Waste Treatment Project. In conjunction with our environmental restoration services at sites around the country, we have safely transported over 21,000 cubic meters of transuranic waste to WIPP, representing nearly 50 percent of the waste received at the facility.