Monitoring fish, wildlife, radionuclides and chemicals at Hanford, Washington

Conference · Wed Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1989

OSTI ID:6377625

Gray, R. H.

Concern about the effects of potential releases from nuclear and non-nuclear activities on the US Department of Energy's Hanford Site in southeastern Washington has evolved over four decades into a comprehensive environmental monitoring and surveillance program. The program includes field sampling, and chemical and physical analyses of air, surface and ground water, fish, wildlife, soil, foodstuffs, and natural vegetation. In addition to monitoring radioactivity in fish and wildlife, population numbers of key species are determined, usually during the breeding season. Data from monitoring efforts are used to assess the environmental impacts of Hanford operations and calculate the overall radiological dose to humans onsite, at the Site perimeter, or residing in nearby communities. Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) spawning in the Columbia River at Hanford has increased in recent years with a concomitant increase in winter nesting activity of bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus). An elk (Cervus elaphus) herd, established by immigration in 1972, is also increasing. Nesting Canada goose (Branta canadensis) and great blue heron (Ardea herodias), and various other animals, e.g., mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) and coyotes (Canis latrans) are common. Measured exposure to penetrating radiation and calculated radiation doses to the public are well below applicable regulatory limits. 35 refs., 4 figs.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 6377625
• Report Number(s): PNL-SA-15238; CONF-890282-1; ON: DE89008251
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

053000* -- Nuclear Fuels-- Environmental Aspects
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
ANADROMOUS FISHES
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
BIRDS
CHEMICAL EFFLUENTS
COYOTES
DEER
FIELD TESTS
FISHES
HANFORD RESERVATION
HISTORICAL ASPECTS
MAMMALS
MONITORING
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
RADIATION MONITORING
RUMINANTS
SALMON
TESTING
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
VERTEBRATES
WILD ANIMALS