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Role of uncertainties in protecting ecological resources during remediation and restoration

Journal Article · · Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health: Part A
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [4];  [5]
  1. Rutgers Univ., Piscataway, NJ (United States). Div. of Life Sciences; Consortium for Risk Evaluation with Stakeholder Participation (CRESP), Rutgers University and Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN (United States)
  2. Consortium for Risk Evaluation with Stakeholder Participation (CRESP), Rutgers University and Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN (United States); Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ (United States). Dept. of Environmental and Occupational Health and Justice
  3. Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States). Earth Systems Science Division
  4. Savannah River Site (SRS), Aiken, SC (United States). Savannah River National Lab. (SRNL)
  5. Consortium for Risk Evaluation with Stakeholder Participation (CRESP), Rutgers University and Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN (United States)
+ Show Author Affiliations
Cleanup of contaminated waste sites is a National priority to protect human health and the environment, while restoring land to productive uses. While there are uncertainties with under standing risk to individuals from exposure, the aim of this study was to focus on uncertainties and complexities for ecological systems, complicated by hundreds of species occupying any remediation site which participate in multiple-interacting food webs. The ability to better predict the effectiveness of remediation in fostering future ecosystems might facilitate remedy selection and improve strategic environmental management. This investigation examined (1) uncertainties in ecosystem processes, (2) uncertainties in exposure from contamination before remediation, and (3) uncertainties during remediation. Two Department of Energy sites Hanford Site and Savannah River Site were used as case studies to illustrate how the uncertainties affect eco-receptors. Several types of ecological, physical, and human dimension uncertainties are defined. Ecological uncertainties include temporal, spatial, individual, developmental, and exogenous types. Physical uncertainties are weather-related, watershed variations, slope/aspect, soil/sediment structure and form, unforeseen events, and temporal patterns. Human dimension uncertainties include current land use, future land use, extractive and non-extractive recreation. The effects of remedial strategies varied between the two sites because Hanford is a primarily arid shrub-steppe ecotype, while Savannah River is a wet forest ecotype. Defining the associated ecological sensitivities and uncertainties and providing examples might help policy-makers, managers, planners, and contractors to be aware of issues to consider throughout planning, remediation, and restoration. Adding ecological uncertainty analysis to risk evaluations and remediation planning is analogous to using safety factors in human health risk assessment.
Research Organization:
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
Grant/Contract Number:
AC05-76RL01830
OSTI ID:
1783241
Report Number(s):
PNNL--SA-160048
Journal Information:
Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health: Part A, Journal Name: Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health: Part A Journal Issue: 12 Vol. 84; ISSN 1528-7394
Publisher:
Taylor & FrancisCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
Department of Energy
Hanford Site
Savannah River Site
ecological effects
ecosystem
remediation
uncertainty