Landscape-level ecological risk assessment -- Problem formulation
- Pacific Northwest Labs., Richland, WA (United States)
Ecological risk assessment has become synonymous with environmental assessment under CERCLA. As the Department of Energy has implemented the RI/FS process, inconsistencies and problem areas have become evident. The definition of a hazardous waste site becomes cloudy at many DOE sites. There are over 1200 past-practice waste sites grouped into 78 operable units at 4 NPL sites at Hanford. Implementation of CERCLA results in both human health and ecological risk assessments being conducted at the operable unit. In selecting an ecological receptor, the operable unit boundary becomes a major factor. The problem results when a receptor is exposed to more than one operable unit by virtue of home range. Although the operable unit may be appropriate for human health risks, the spatial scale is inappropriate for ecological risks. Most higher trophic receptors potentially frequent multiple operable units. To account for this situation, an alternative approach is being developed based on receptor home range rather than operable unit boundaries. The result is spatially distributed risk contours for each receptor. This paper will present the specifics of the problem-formulation phase and use of the landscape approach, not only to assess ecological risks at the appropriate scale but consider natural resource values which are not generally considered in the assessment.
- OSTI ID:
- 33566
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9410273--
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Superfund record of decision (EPA Region 8): Anaconda Company Smelter (ARWW and S) Operable Unit, Anaconda, MT, September 29, 1998
Preliminary site characterization - final report