Interim reclamation report, Basalt Waste Isolation Project Near Surface Test Facility 1990

Technical Report · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1991

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6280059· OSTI ID:6280059

Brandt, C A; Rickard, Jr, W H; Hefty, M G; Cadoret, N A

This report describes the development of the reclamation project for the Hanford Site Near Surface Test Facility (NSTF), its implementation, and preliminary estimates of its success. The goal of the reclamation project is to return disturbed sites as nearly as practicable to their original conditions using native species. Gable Mountain is dominated by two plant communities: a big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) -- Sandberg's bluegrass (Poa sandbergii) community and a stiff sagebrush (Artemisia rigida) -- Sandberg's bluegrass community. Disassembly of the site installations began on March 15, 1988, and the site was returned to original contours by December 12, 1988. Two separate revegetation methods were employed at the NSTF to meet differing site constraints. Vegetative cover and density in the revegetation plots were assessed in April 1989 and again in June 1989 and 1990. It is extremely unlikely that the sand pit, borrow pit, box cuts, generator pad area, or ventilation fan area will reach the reclamation objectives set for these areas within the next 50 years without further intervention. These areas currently support few living plants. Vegetation on revegetated native soils appears to be growing as expected. Vegetation growth on the main waterline is well below the objective. To date, no shrubs have grown on the area, growth of native grasses is well below the objective, and much of the area has been covered with the pit run material, which may not support adequate growth. Without further treatments, the areas without the pit run material will likely revert to a nearly pure cheatgrass condition. 44 refs., 13 figs., 7 tabs.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE/RW
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 6280059
• Report Number(s): PNL-7584; ON: DE91006309
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540250* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Site Resource & Use Studies-- (1990-)
CULTIVATION
DECOMMISSIONING
DOCUMENT TYPES
ECOSYSTEMS
HANFORD RESERVATION
LAND RECLAMATION
METEOROLOGY
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
PLANTS
PREFERRED SPECIES
PROGRESS REPORT
RADIOACTIVE WASTE FACILITIES
REVEGETATION
SITE CHARACTERIZATION
SOILS
TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS