The Reclamation Program of the treatability studies for soil media project

Conference · Wed Oct 20 00:00:00 EDT 1993

OSTI ID:10159123

The US Department of Energy is sponsoring a research and demonstration program on the Nevada Test Site to develop and test an optimized cleanup system for large-area, surface plutonium contamination. The project addresses three principle areas: vegetation and soil removal, volume reduction of the displaced soil, and site restoration consisting of soil stabilization and revegetation. Soil stabilization and revegetation are critical in order to prevent erosion and reestablish wildlife habitat. A series of field and laboratory studies have been initiated to develop technologies to stabilize and restore sites disturbed by TSSM activities. Soil stabilization studies will test suitable techniques and materials to control wind and water erosion. Revegetation studies will focus on determining suitable plant species, proper techniques for establishing plants by direct seeding, procedures for transplanting native shrubs, soil fertility and irrigation requirements, and effects of herbivory on plant establishment. Additional studies will determine the extent of plutonium contamination on native vegetation, and the potential for removing plutonium from vegetation. Laboratory and greenhouse studies will determine effects of plutonium decontamination processes on soil microbial populations, and the effects of gravel mulches and soil texture on plant establishment. Following completion of these studies, the most promising technologies will be demonstrated on a larger scale at actual contaminated sites on the NTS.

• Research Organization: EG and G Energy Measurements, Inc., Goleta, CA (United States). Santa Barbara Operations
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC08-93NV11265
• OSTI ID: 10159123
• Report Number(s): EGG-11265-2027; CONF-9310276-8; ON: DE94013567
• Resource Relation: Conference: 8. wildland shrub and arid land restoration symposium,Las Vegas, NV (United States),19-21 Oct 1993; Other Information: PBD: 20 Oct 1993
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
NEVADA TEST SITE
RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT
LAND RECLAMATION
REMEDIAL ACTION
PLUTONIUM
SOILS
REMOVAL
PLANTS
DECONTAMINATION
IMAGES
052000
054000
540230
WASTE MANAGEMENT
HEALTH AND SAFETY
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS MONITORING AND TRANSPORT