REMOTE SENSING ANALYSIS OF THE FORT HANCOCK LOW-LEVELRADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL SITE HUDSPETH COUNTY, TEXAS

摘要

The Texas Low- Level Radioactive Disposal Waste Authority (Authority) in 1987 selected thernFort Hancock site as the Texas near-surface radioactive waste disposal site. The siternsubsequently failed in a legal challenge in 1991. The State of Texas expended considerable effortrnand money in attempting to license this site. The question has to be asked, "could thesernexpenditures have been reduced or eliminated by utilizing the now available level of expertise inrnremote sensing technology and LANDSAT data?" An image was constructed using data fromrnLANDSAT-5 (Path 32, Row 38) flown on May 20,1986. Thematic mapper spectral (3,7,2) bandsrnwere used on the image (scale = 1:50,000) which had a resolution 30-m. Analysis of the imagernrevealed evidence of the elements of geological structure, vegetation, drainage patterns, andrnvariations in consolidated and unconsolidated surficial lithologies. These features indicatedrnpotential fatal flaws as well as sensitive areas requiring at the least on-site ground truth.rnThe discovery of such problems at the initial stage of evaluation of any site (radioactive or nonradioactive)rnwould enable the responsible authorities to rapidly decide whether to continue sitingrnstudies or abandon the proposed site. It should also be noted that early LANDSAT images, flownrnprior to site occupation, would seem to provide a legitimate comparative "greenfield" basis forrnany repository or nuclear-related site. These images should, therefore, be useful in estimating andrndelimiting the necessary cost as well as the required level of future site remediation.