Hanford Site Freshwater Mussel Monitoring Report for Calendar Year 2024

Abstract

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