Hanford Site Freshwater Mussel Monitoring Report for Calendar Year 2022
The U.S. Department of Energy, Richland Operations Office (DOE-RL) conducts ecological monitoring on the Hanford Site to collect and maintain data needed to ensure compliance with an array of environmental laws, regulations, and policies governing DOE-RL activities. Ecological monitoring data provides baseline information about the plants, animals, and habitats under DOE-RL stewardship at the Hanford Site that is required for decision making under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980. In addition, ecological monitoring helps ensure that DOE-RL, its contractors, and other entities conducting activities on the Hanford Site are in compliance with the Hanford Site Comprehensive Land Use Plan (DOE/EIS-0222-F). DOE-RL places priority on monitoring those plant and animal species or habitats with specific regulatory protections or requirements that are rare and/or declining (federal or state listed endangered, threatened, or sensitive species) or are of significant interest to federal, state, or tribal governments or the public.