Applications of Ecological Engineering Remedies for Uranium Processing Sites, USA
- Navarro Research and Engineering
The U.S. Department of Energy (USDOE) is responsible for remediation of environmental contamination and long-term stewardship of sites associated with the legacy of nuclear weapons production during the Cold War in the United States. Protection of human health and the environment will be required for hundreds or even thousands of years at many legacy sites. USDOE continually evaluates and applies advances in science and technology to improve the effectiveness and sustainability of surface and groundwater remedies (USDOE 2011). This paper is a synopsis of ecological engineering applications that USDOE is evaluating to assess the effectiveness of remedies at former uranium processing sites in the southwestern United States. Ecological engineering remedies are predicated on the concept that natural ecological processes at legacy sites, once understood, can be beneficially enhanced or manipulated. Advances in tools for characterizing key processes and for monitoring remedy performance are demonstrating potential. We present test cases for four ecological engineering remedies that may be candidates for international applications.
- Research Organization:
- US Department of Energy/Office of Legacy Management
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Legacy Management (LM), Office of Field Operations
- DOE Contract Number:
- DE-LM0000421
- OSTI ID:
- 1258487
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: “International Conference on Advancing the Global Implementation of Decommissioning and Environmental Remediation Programmes,” Madrid, Spain, 23–27 May 2016.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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