Novel Approach for Considering Ecosystem Services at Industrial Sites near Agricultural Lands
Natural resource damages from industrial operations have been studied for years at legacy sites, including the U.S. Department of Energy Hanford site in southeastern Washington State. Encompassing nearly 1,500 km2 (600 mi2), this site represents one of the world’s largest cleanup projects with an estimated cost exceeding $320 billion and perhaps double that. The site includes an extensive buffer zone beyond the relatively limited portion (15%) used for nuclear materials production and associated waste storage and disposal. Before Hanford existed, most of the local lands were used for agriculture, and that use has continued nearby. Historical data relevant to the natural resource damage assessment process include location-specific irrigation practices, rates of groundwater withdrawal, and sustainable yields. The potential for considering the benefit of an ecosystem service is also being explored. Undeveloped areas of the site have long provided natural habitat for a wide variety of species, including pollinators. Thus, adjacent agricultural lands have benefited from pollinator services for years. This study describes a novel approach for considering the benefit of increased crop value due to this pollinator service. The approach combines spatial data for local pollinator-dependent crops with pollinator abundance data. A production function is then applied to estimate the agro-economic value resulting from crop pollination. A preliminary analysis indicates that the increased value for apple crops alone near Hanford could be on the order of $80 million a year. The benefits from this ecosystem service could offer practical context as a complement to the assessment of natural resource damages.
- Research Organization:
- Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Environmental Management
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-06CH11357
- OSTI ID:
- 1515227
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 2019 Waste Management Symposia, 03/03/19 - 03/07/19, Phoenix, AZ, US
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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