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During Site Characterization, we developed a Reclamation Implementation Plan that describes how we’ll meet federal policies and standards for reclamation at Yucca Mountain. The implementation plan addresses the technical requirements for reclamation based on our studies for determining the most successful reclamation techniques. It also includes our methods for reclaiming and monitoring disturbed land and the steps to be taken to implement federal policies and standards.

According to the Reclamation Implementation Plan, the Yucca Mountain reclamation program involves the following steps:

1. Prior to any Project activity that would disturb the land, we collect data for planning the restoration of the area and identifying sensitive habitats. This includes using satellite data to identify prior disturbances to the land, surveying the vegetation of the area, and looking for signs of desert tortoise habitation. At this stage, we also determine the characteristics of the soil and the depth to which the topsoil is salvageable.



2. Prior to disturbing the land, we remove and store the topsoil. To reduce wind and water erosion of the stored topsoil, we stabilize it with mulch, wood-fiber and a binding agent. If the topsoil is to remain in a stockpile for more than a year, we also seed the surface with native plant species. We continually monitor and maintain the topsoil reserve to keep it stable and minimize erosion until it is used during restoration efforts.



3. Once the Project activity is completed, we replace the topsoil and plant it with vegetative cover similar to the adjacent plant community. We conduct this step using techniques developed during our reclamation studies at Yucca Mountain, along with the most recent technologies available.



4. After we’ve restored the land, we continue to monitor the area to determine whether reclamation success standards are being met. This includes gathering data on the plant cover (percentage of plant foliage covering surface), plant density (number of plants per unit area), species richness (number of species per unit area), animal use, and soil erosion.

• U.S. Department of Energy Reclamation Implementation Plan for Yucca Mountain [pdf]