A Methodology to Evaluate Ecological Resources and Risk Using Two Case Studies at the Department of Energy’s Hanford Site

• Published in: Environmental management (New York) Vol. 59; no. 3; pp. 357 - 372
• Main Authors: Burger, Joanna, Gochfeld, Michael, Bunn, Amoret, Downs, Janelle, Jeitner, Christian, Pittfield, Taryn, Salisbury, Jennifer, Kosson, David
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.03.2017; Springer Nature B.V; Springer
• Subjects: Aquatic Pollution; assessment method; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Case studies; Conservation of Natural Resources - methods; Decision making; Earth and Environmental Science; ec; Ecological conditions; Ecology; Ecosystem; Endangered & extinct species; Endangered Species - trends; Energy; Energy policy; Environment; Environmental Management; Environmental Pollution - analysis; Environmental Restoration and Remediation; ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; Forestry Management; Government agencies; Laboratories; Management decisions; Methods; Nature Conservation; Remediation; Risk Assessment; risk evaluation; risk methodology; risk rating; State regulations; Washington; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control; USA, Washington, Hanford Site; INE, USA, Washington; Ecological resources; Risk evaluation; Remediation; Risk methodology; Assessment method; Risk rating
• ISSN: 0364-152X; 1432-1009
• DOI: 10.1007/s00267-016-0798-8

An assessment of the potential risks to ecological resources from remediation activities or other perturbations should involve a quantitative evaluation of resources on the remediation site and in the surrounding environment. We developed a risk methodology to rapidly evaluate potential impact on ecological resources for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Hanford Site in southcentral Washington State. We describe the application of the risk evaluation for two case studies to illustrate its applicability. The ecological assessment involves examining previous sources of information for the site, defining different resource levels from 0 to 5. We also developed a risk rating scale from non-discernable to very high. Field assessment is the critical step to determine resource levels or to determine if current conditions are the same as previously evaluated. We provide a rapid assessment method for current ecological conditions that can be compared to previous site-specific data, or that can be used to assess resource value on other sites where ecological information is not generally available. The method is applicable to other Department of Energy’s sites, where its development may involve a range of state regulators, resource trustees, Tribes and other stakeholders. Achieving consistency across Department of Energy’s sites for valuation of ecological resources on remediation sites will assure Congress and the public that funds and personnel are being deployed appropriately.