Sustainable System for Residual Hazards Management

Hazardous, radioactive and other toxic substances have routinely been generated and subsequently disposed of in the shallow subsurface throughout the world. Many of today’s waste management techniques do not eliminate the problem, but rather only concentrate or contain the hazardous contaminants. Residual hazards result from the presence of hazardous and/or contaminated material that remains on-site following active operations or the completion of remedial actions. Residual hazards pose continued risk to humans and the environment and represent a significant and chronic problem that require continuous longterm management (i.e. >1000 years). To protect human health and safeguard the natural environment, a sustainable system is required for the proper management of residual hazards. A sustainable system for the management of residual hazards will require the integration of engineered, institutional and land-use controls to isolate residual contaminants and thus minimize the associated hazards. Engineered controls are physical modifications to the natural setting and ecosystem, including the site, facility, and/or the residual materials themselves, in order to reduce or eliminate the potential for exposure to contaminants of concern (COCs). Institutional controls are processes, instruments, and mechanisms designed to influence human behavior and activity. System failure can involve hazardous material escaping from the confinement because of system degradation (i.e., chronic or acute degradation) or by externalintrusion of the biosphere into the contaminated material because of the loss of institutional control. An ongoing analysis of contemporary and historic sites suggests that the significance of the loss of institutional controls is a critical pathway because decisions made during the operations/remedial action phase, as well as decisions made throughout the residual hazards management period, are key to the longterm success of the prescribed system. In fact, given that society has become more reliant on and confident of engineered controls, there may be a growing tendency to be even less concerned with institutional controls

THE INTEGRATION OF ENGINEERED AND INSTITUTIONAL CONTROLS: A CASE STUDY APPROACH WITH LESSONS LEARNED FROM PREVIOUSLY CLOSED SITES

Environmental remediation efforts that are underway at hundreds of contaminated sites in the United States will not be able to remediate large portions of those sites to conditions that would permit unrestricted access. Rather, large volumes of waste materials, contaminated soils and cleanup residuals will have to be isolated either in place or in new, often on-site, disposal cells with long term monitoring, maintenance and institutional control needs. The challenge continues to be to provide engineering systems and controls that can ensure the protection of public health and the environment over very long time horizons (hundreds to perhaps thousands of years) with minimal intervention. Effective long term management of legacy hazardous and nuclear waste requires an integrated approach that addresses both the engineered containment and control system itself and the institutional controls and other responsibilities that are needed. Decisions concerning system design, monitoring and maintenance, and the institutional controls that will be employed are best done through a "risk-nformed, performance-based" approach. Such an approach should incorporate an analysis of potential "failure" modes and consequences for all important system features, together with lessons learned from experience with systems already in place. The authors will present the preliminary results of a case study approach that included several sites where contamination isolation systems including institutional controls have been implemented. The results are being used together with failure trees and logic diagrams that have been developed for both the engineered barriers and the institutional controls. The use of these analytical tools to evaluate the potential for different levels of failure and associated consequences will be discussed. Of special interest is the robustness of different approaches to providing long-term protection through redundancy and defense in depth

The basic of performance measuranment/ Harbour

71 hal.; 18 c

The basic of performance measuranment/ Harbour

71 hal.; 18 c

The basic of performance measuranment/ Harbour

71 hal.; 18 c

The basic of performance measuranment/ Harbour

71 hal.; 18 c

TWO VIEWS OF PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

ABSTRACT Risk perception has been studied extensively over the past several decades. This research has defined the differences that exist between and among various groups as defined by their education, interests, geographic distribution, and beliefs. It has also been repeatedly demonstrated that various public groups can and do have a tremendous impact on decisions made in the public and private sectors. Involved citizens for example, have caused international corporations as well as the Department of Energy to change or even reverse a chosen course of action. A frequent cause of such reversals is attributed to a lack of involvement of the public and other key decision players directly in the decision process itself. Through our research and case studies, we have developed both an "as is" and a "participatory" model of decision-making process. The latter decision model allows the direct involvement of important player groups. The paper presents and discusses these models in theoretical and practical terms taken from case studies of the Brent Spar disposal in the North Atlantic, and the use of incineration as a method of waste treatment at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory. Results from the case studies are used to demonstrate why the "as is" model accurately describes the current situation, and how the "participatory model" will allow decisions to be made that are publicly supported and can be implemented. The use of such a model will provide users a framework from which to successfully make progress in a wide range of environmental endeavors cooperatively with the public, rather than in spite of the public. THE STATUS QUO In the past, industry as well as DOE has engaged in a variety of technical analyses to support decision-making activities. These analyses have included risk assessments, economic analyses, and a variety of other initiatives to identify needed research and technology development. Unfortunately, involvement of the public in this process has been limited and at best, may be characterized as simply seeking approval of decisions already framed and in many instances, already made. The laws surrounding public involvement do require public meetings for comment and input but fall well short of establishing meaningful dialogue. Much of what may be discussed in public meetings revolves around the technical analyses supporting the decisions and/or a description of the planned activities. Such discussions essentially reduce the role of the public to one of approving a decision that has already been made. Upon presentation of such a decision, coupled with the lack of involvement, the public often objects to the decision and takes action, legal or otherwise, to stop its implementation

Comparison of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Platforms for Assessing Vegetation Cover in Sagebrush Steppe Ecosystems

In this study, the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) as a quick and safe method for monitoring biotic resources was evaluated. Vegetation cover and the amount of bare ground are important factors in understanding the sustainability of many ecosystems. Methods that improve speed and cost efficiency could greatly improve how biotic resources are monitored on western lands. Sagebrush steppe ecosystems provide important habitat for a variety of species including sage grouse and pygmy rabbit. Improved methods of monitoring these habitats are needed because not enough resource specialists or funds are available for comprehensive on-the-ground evaluations. In this project, two UAV platforms, fixed-wing and helicopter, were used to collect still-frame imagery to assess vegetation cover in sagebrush steppe ecosystems. This paper discusses the process for collecting and analyzing imagery from the UAVs to 1) estimate percentage of cover for six different vegetation types (shrub, dead shrub, grass, forb, litter, and bare ground) and 2) locate sage grouse using representative decoys. The field plots were located on the Idaho National Laboratory site west of Idaho Falls, Idaho, in areas with varying amounts and types of vegetation cover. A software program called SamplePoint was used along with visual inspection to evaluate percentage of cover for the six cover types. Results were compared against standard field measurements to assess accuracy. The comparison of fixed-wing and helicopter UAV technology against field estimates shows good agreement for the measurement of bare ground. This study shows that if a high degree of detail and data accuracy is desired, then a helicopter UAV may be a good platform to use. If the data collection objective is to assess broad-scale landscape level changes, then the collection of imagery with a fixed-wing system is probably more appropriate./En este estudio se evaluó el uso de vehículos aéreos no tripulados (VANT) como un método rápido y seguro para monitorear recursos bióticos. La cubierta vegetal y la cantidad de suelo desnudo son factores importantes para entender la sustentabilidad de varios ecosistemas. Métodos que mejoren la rapidez y el costo podrían mejorar la manera en que los recursos bióticos de las tierras del oeste son monitoreados. El ecosistema de estepa de artemisa provee hábitat para varias especies que incluyen al ganso sage y conejo pigmeo. Es necesario mejorar los métodos de monitoreo de estos hábitat porque no hay suficientes especialistas en recursos o fondos disponibles para evaluaciones completas en el terreno. En este proyecto, se utilizaron dos plataformas de VANT, alas fijas y helicóptero para recolectar imágenes fotográficas para evaluar la cubierta vegetal en un ecosistema de estepa de artemisa. En este artículo se discute el proceso de recolección y análisis de imágenes de un VANT para 1) estimar el porcentaje de cubierta de seis diferentes tipos de vegetación (matorral, matorral seco, zacate, hierbas, mantillo y suelo desnudo) y 2) ubicar gansos sage usando señuelos. Las parcelas experimentales se ubicaron en el Laboratorio Nacional de Idaho sitio localizado en Idaho Falls, Idaho en áreas con diferentes cantidades y tipos de cubierta vegetal. Se uso el programa de software SamplePoint junto con inspecciones oculares para evaluar el porcentaje de cubierta de seis tipos de cubiertas. Los resultados se compararon contra medidas de campo estándar para evaluar su precisión. La comparación de la tecnología de helicóptero VANT y alas fijas contra estimaciones de campo muestra buena relación para las medidas de suelo desnudo. El estudio muestra que sí se requiere alto grado de detalle y precisión en los datos el helicóptero VANT podría ser una buena plataforma para usarse. Pero sí el objetivo de recopilación de datos, es evaluar a gran escala los niveles de cambio en el paisaje entonces, la recopilación de imágenes con el sistema de alas fijas es probablemente más apropiado.The Rangeland Ecology & Management archives are made available by the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries. Contact [email protected] for further information.Migrated from OJS platform August 202

Using Unmanned Helicopters to Assess Vegetation Cover in Sagebrush Steppe Ecosystems

Evaluating vegetation cover is an important factor in understanding the sustainability of many ecosystems. Remote sensing methods with sufficient accuracy could dramatically alter how biotic resources are monitored on both public and private lands. Idaho National Laboratory (INL), in conjunction with the University of Idaho, evaluated whether unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are sufficiently accurate and more efficient than the point-frame field method for monitoring vegetative cover and bare ground in sagebrush steppe ecosystems. These values are of interest to land managers because typically there are limited natural resource scientists and funding for comprehensive ground evaluations. In this project, unmanned helicopters were used to collect still-frame imagery to determine vegetation cover during June and July 2005. The images were used to estimate percent cover for six vegetative cover classes (shrub, dead shrub, grass, forbs, litter, and bare ground). Field plots used to collect imagery and on-the-ground measurements were located on the INL site west of Idaho Falls, Idaho. Ocular assessments of digital imagery were performed using SamplePoint, and the results were compared with field measurements collected using a point-frame method. The helicopter imagery evaluation showed a high degree of agreement with field cover class values for grass, litter, and bare ground and reasonable agreement for dead shrubs. Shrub cover was often overestimated, and forbs were generally underestimated. The helicopter method took 45% less time than the field method. This study demonstrates that UAV technology provides a viable method for monitoring selective types of cover on rangelands and could save time and resources./Evaluar la cobertura vegetal es un importante factor para entender la sustentabilidad de muchos ecosistemas. Métodos de teledetección con suficiente precisión pueden considerablemente alterar la manera en como los recursos bióticos son monitoreados tanto en propiedad privada y pública. El laboratorio Nacional de Idaho (INL), en conjunto con la universidad de Idaho, evaluaron si vehículos aéreos no tripulados (UAVs) son suficientemente precisos y más eficientes que los métodos de campo basados en punto de referencia para monitorear la cobertura de las vegetación y el suelo desnudo en los ecosistemas de pastizales de Artemisia. Estas evaluaciones son de interés para los manejadores de tierra ya que normalmente hay poco scientíficos dedicados al estudio de los recursos naturales así como escasos recursos monetarios para evaluaciones integrales. En este proyecto, helicópteros no tripulados fueron usados para recolectar imágenes usadas para determinar la cobertura vegetal durante junio y julio de 2005. Las imágenes fueron usadas para estimar el porcentaje de cobertura de seis clases de cubierta vegetal (arbustos, arbustos muertos, pastos, herbáceas, hojarasca y suelo desnudo). Parcelas de campo que fueron usadas para recolectar las imágenes así como las mediciones en campo fueron localizadas en el sitio INL al oeste de Idaho Falls, Idaho. Evaluaciones oculares de imágenes digitales fueron realizadas usando SamplePoint y los resultados fueron comparados con las mediciones de campo recolectadas usando el método de point-frame. La evaluación de las imágenes recolectadas por el helicóptero mostró un alto grado de correlación con respecto a las evaluaciones de campo para pastos, hojarasca, y suelo desnudo, y una razonable relación para plantas muertas. Las cobertura de los arbustos fue regularmente sobrestimado y para las herbáceas fueron generalmente subestimadas. El método del helicóptero tomo 45% menos tiempo que el método de campo. Este estudio demostró que la tecnología UAV proporciono un método viable para monitorear los tipos selectivos de cobertura en los pastizales y podría salvar tiempo y recursos.The Rangeland Ecology & Management archives are made available by the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries. Contact [email protected] for further information.Migrated from OJS platform August 202