Ecological studies related to construction of the Defense Waste Processing Facility on the Savannah River Site
The Defense Waste Processing Facility (DWPF) was built on the Savannah River Site (SRS) during the mid-1980's. The Savannah River Ecology Laboratory (SREL) has completed 12 years of ecological studies related to the construction of the DWPF complex. Prior to construction, the 600-acre site (S-Area) contained a Carolina bay and the headwaters of a stream. Research conducted by the SREL has focused primarily on four questions related to these wetlands: (1) Prior to construction, what fauna and flora were present at the DWPF site and at similar, yet undisturbed, alternative sites (2) By comparing the Carolina bay at the DWPF site (Sun Bay) with an undisturbed control Carolina bay (Rainbow Bay), what effect is construction having on the organisms that inhabited the DWPF site (3) By comparing control streams with streams on the periphery of the DWPF site, what effect is construction having on the peripheral streams (4) How effective have efforts been to lessen the impacts of construction, both with respect to erosion control measures and the construction of refuge ponds'' as alternative breeding sites for amphibians that formerly bred at Sun Bay Through the long-term census-taking of biota at the DWPF site and Rainbow Bay, SREL has begun to evaluate the impact of construction on the biota and the effectiveness of mitigation efforts. Similarly, the effects of erosion from the DWPF site on the water quality of S-Area peripheral streams are being assessed. This research provides supporting data relevant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, the Endangered Species Act of 1973, Executive Orders 11988 (Floodplain Management) and 11990 (Protection of Wetlands), and United States Department of Energy (DOE) Guidelines for Compliance with Floodplain/Wetland Environmental Review Requirements (10CFR1022).
- Research Organization:
- Savannah River Ecology Lab., Aiken, SC (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC09-76SR00819
- OSTI ID:
- 6622311
- Report Number(s):
- SREL-46; ON: DE93010119
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Ecological studies related to the construction of the Defense Waste Processing Facility on the Savannah River Site. Annual report, FY-1991 and FY-1992
Ecological studies related to construction of the Defense Waste Processing Facility on the Savannah River Site. Annual report, FY 1993
Related Subjects
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
SAVANNAH RIVER PLANT
ECOLOGY
RADIOACTIVE WASTE FACILITIES
SURFACE WATERS
WATER QUALITY
AMPHIBIANS
COMPILED DATA
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
HYDROLOGY
METEOROLOGY
PROGRESS REPORT
RADIOACTIVE WASTE PROCESSING
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
DATA
DOCUMENT TYPES
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
INFORMATION
MANAGEMENT
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
NUMERICAL DATA
PROCESSING
RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT
US AEC
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
VERTEBRATES
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING
540230* - Environment
Terrestrial- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
540220 - Environment
Terrestrial- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
052001 - Nuclear Fuels- Waste Processing