Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Nevada Test Site and Off-Site Locations

5.7 Irreversible and Irretrievable Commitment of Resources

This section identifies the major irreversible and irretrievable commitments of resources that are identifiable at the sitewide level of analysis. A commitment of resources is irreversible when its primary or secondary impacts limit the future options for a resource. An irretrievable commitment refers to the use or consumption of resources neither renewable nor recoverable for later use by future generations. The major irreversible and irretrievable commitment is land use, with lesser commitments of harvestable products, materials, groundwater, and energy.

Implementation of any of the alternatives would result in a permanent commitment of certain air, groundwater, soil, biota, mineral, surface, and subsurface resources. There would be an irreversible and irretrievable commitment of the associated natural resource services. In addition to the National Environmental Policy Act requirement to identify the irreversible and irretrievable commitments of resources, it is also the intent of the DOE to identify these resources within the meaning of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, Section 107(f)(1). Section 107(f)(1) which addresses natural resource damage liability and states that the liability is obviated if:

". . . the damages to natural commitments of resources complained of were specifically identified as irreversible and irretrievable commitments of resources in an environmental impact statement, or other comparable environmental analysis, and the decision to grant a permit or license authorizes such commitment of natural resources, and the facility or project was otherwise operating within the terms of its permit or license, so long as, in the case of damages to an Indian tribe occurring pursuant to a Federal permit or license, the issuance of that permit or license was not inconsistent with the fiduciary duty of the United States with respect to such Indian tribe."

5.7.1 Alternative 1

The irreversible and irretrievable commitments of resources that would result under Alternative 1 are presented for the NTS, the Tonopah Test Range, the Project Shoal Area, and the Central Nevada Test Area.

5.7.1.1 Nevada Test Site

Developed areas like Mercury, Area 12 Camp, Area 25 Complex, Control Point 1, and so on would remain in an urban or industrial configuration. Thus, a long-term land-use commitment exists that would preclude alternative, nonurban use. Natural habitat productivity at these locations would be reduced. Even with removal of the structures and infrastructure, completely natural conditions would be unlikely to be achieved.

Although technically reversible through excavation and clean closure, use of the radioactive waste management facilities for waste disposal would result in an irreversible and irretrievable commitment of the sites and surrounding buffer areas. Land uses would be severely restricted, as would access to the subsurface. Some surface areas would be rehabilitated upon closure and would provide natural habitat, but little other human use. Most closures would likely be designed using rock armor to inhibit vegetation or burrowing by animals. Sanitary and construction landfills would represent an irreversible and irretrievable commitment of the subsurface and some limitation of the surface uses.

Underground nuclear tests would represent, in large part, an irreversible and irretrievable commitment of the subsurface for any subsequent use. The surface above an underground nuclear test would be restricted from all access if cratering has not occurred. Where cratering has occurred, some limited surface use would be permissible. Underground subcritical experiments would result in an irreversible and irretrievable commitment of the mined cavity for subsequent use. Following subcritical experiments, the land surface would be unaffected and unrestricted.

Decontamination and decommissioning activities would produce mixed results depending on the remedy selected. Entombment would result in anirretrievable and irreversible commitment of the surface or associated subsurface for most land use. Most decontamination and decommissioning activities would result in either decontamination and consequent availability of the facility for other use or demolition of the facility and disposal. Reuse would entail the facility remaining in an industrial mode, which would represent long-term commitment to that type of land use. Demolition of the facility would result in the land's availability for other development or for site rehabilitation and use as natural habitat.

Although technically reversible through excavation and clean closure, closure in place would result in an irreversible and irretrievable commitment for those Resource Conservation and Recovery Act industrial sites that are so treated. Land use on these sites and in a surrounding buffer zone would be severely constrained. Rehabilitation by revegetation would permit their functioning as natural habitat, but closure would likely be designed using rock armor to inhibit vegetation or burrowing by animals.

Continued airspace restriction would represent an irreversible and irretrievable commitment because access would be limited to government use only, to the detriment of general aviation and commercial users.

Industrial accidents resulting in injuries or deaths and latent cancer fatalities caused by worker exposure to radiation at the NTS would represent an irreversible and irretrievable commitment of human resources.

Continued restriction of harvest of products like game, pine nuts, or grass, and maintenance of areas in development that precludes their natural productivity, would represent an irretrievable commitment of resources. However, the area of theNTS that would be developed or committed to such use as radioactive waste disposal is a small fraction of the total area.

Removal of soils for environmental restoration projects would result in their irreversible and irretrievable loss since they would be landfilled and any associated natural resource services that they provide would be lost as well. Environmental restoration would involve up to about 9,800 acres, most of which have been previously disturbed. The amount that would be redisturbed during remediation depends, first, upon the levels of contamination that would be determined during characterization and, second, upon the agreements reached with the state of Nevada regarding cleanup levels.

The conduct of one or more underground nuclear tests would result in an undetermined impact on groundwater quality if it occurred in or near the water table. Any groundwater contamination in excess of EPA drinking water standards would constitute an irreversible and irretrievable commitment of a presently unquantifiable amount of water. Similarly, any contamination of groundwater above EPA drinking water standards at the existing underground test cavity locations would represent an irreversible and irretrievable commitment of the resource.

The subsurface area and geologic values at existing and future potential underground test cavity locations would represent an irreversible and irretrievable commitment of their associated natural resource services.

A total of 2.1 x 10⁶ m³ per year (5.5 x 10⁸ gal/yr) of water would be used to support all NTS programs under Alternative 1. This water would represent an irreversible and irretrievable commitment of this resource.

Electric usage would total 6.9 x 10⁶ kW hrs/month, while fuel usage would total 708 m³ per month (187,000 gal/month), which would represent an irreversible and irretrievable commitment of the energy resources.

A total of about 59,000 acres has been disturbed to date, and an additional 9,900 acres would be disturbed over the next 10 years. With the exception of some of those areas that would be remediated under the Environmental Restoration Program, most of these acres would be irreversibly and irretrievably committed to their present uses. This would result in a minimal to total reduction of their associated natural resource services.

When an activity cannot be relocated, cultural resources must be removed in the process of data recovery. To the extent that this action precludes future data recovery using improved technology, it would represent an irreversible and irretrievable commitment of the information value represented. If cultural resources exist in an area too highly contaminated to survey or to conduct data recovery, these resources may be lost when remediation disturbs the surface. This is an irreversible and irretrievable loss of the information value that such resources contain. Vandalism and illicit artifact collecting within archaeologically sensitive areas are likely to result in irreversible and irretrievable loss of their information value.

5.7.1.2 Tonopah Test Range

Much of the activity at the Tonopah Test Range takes place on the playas, hence surface disturbance would produce no effects on most other resources. No new surface disturbance would occur under Alternative 1. Removal of soils for environmental restoration projects would result in their irreversible and irretrievable loss since they would be landfilled and any associated natural resource services that they provide would be lost as well. Environmental restoration activities could involve several hundred acres, most of which have been previously disturbed. The amount that would be redisturbed during remediation depends, first, upon the levels of contamination that would be determined during characterization and, second, upon the agreements reached with the state of Nevada regarding cleanup levels. With the exception of some of those areas that would be remediated under the Environmental Restoration Program, most of these acres would be irreversibly and irretrievably committed to their present uses. This would result in a minimal to total reduction of their associated natural resource services.

5.7.1.3 Project Shoal and Central Nevada Test Areas

About 10 acres at the Project Shoal Area and 40 acres at the Central Nevada Test Area would be disturbed through environmental remediation. Most of these areas were previously disturbed, so this would represent a setback in the ecological succession that has occurred. In addition, the subsurface areas at the cavity locations and any associated groundwater contaminated above EPA drinking water standards would represent an irreversible and irretrievable commitment of their associated natural resource services.

Some cultural resource site data recovery represents, to a degree, an irreversible and irretrievable commitment of the potential information resource represented. This is because the recovery in the future of some information would be precluded due to the limited capability of present technology to recover certain information. Other irreversible and irretrievable losses may be incurred as a result of vandalism and illicit artifact collecting.

5.7.2 Alternative 2

The irreversible and irretrievable commitment of resources that would result under Alternative 2 are presented for the NTS, the Tonopah Test Range, the Project Shoal Area, and the Central Nevada Test Area.

5.7.2.1 Nevada Test Site

Developed areas like Mercury, Area 12 Camp, Area 25 Complex, andControl Point 1 would remain in an urban or industrial configuration. Thus, a long-term land-use commitment exists that would preclude alternative, nonurban uses. Natural habitat productivity at these locations would be reduced.

Although less use of the radioactive waste management facilities for waste disposal would occur with this alternative than with Alternative 1, there would still be an irreversible and irretrievable commitment of the sites and surrounding buffer areas. Land use would be severely restricted as would access to the subsurface. Some surface areas would be rehabilitated upon closure and would provide natural habitat, but little other human use. Most closures would be designed using rock armor to inhibit vegetation or burrowing by animals. Sanitary and construction landfills would represent an irreversible and irretrievable commitment of the subsurface and some limitation of the surface uses.

The effects of this alternative would be similar to those of Alternative 1. An insignificant lower increment of effect would exist since there would be no Defense Program activities. The existing underground nuclear test areas represent, in large part, an irreversible and irretrievable commitment of the subsurface for any subsequent uses. The surface would continue to be restricted from all access if cratering has not occurred.

Continued airspace restriction would represent an irreversible and irretrievable commitment of that access to government uses only, to the detriment of general aviation and commercial users.

Continued restriction of harvest of annually perishable products like game, pine nuts, or grass and maintenance of areas in development that precludes their natural productivity represent an irretrievable commitment of resources. However, the area of the NTS that is developed or committed to such uses as radioactive waste disposal is a small fraction of the total area.

Any contamination of groundwater above EPA drinking water standards at the existing underground test cavity locations would represent an irreversible and irretrievable commitment of the resource.

The subsurface area and geologic values at the existing underground test cavity locations would represent an irreversible and irretrievable commitment of their associated natural resource services. Contaminated soils that are not remediated would be irretrievably lost as a soil resource.

Water used to support the environmental monitoring and security functions remaining at the NTS under Alternative 2 would represent an irreversible and irretrievable commitment of the resource.

Electric usage would total 89,744 kW hrs/month, while fuel usage would total 11 m³ per month (2,778 gal/month), which would represent an irreversible and irretrievable commitment of the energy resources.

A total of about 59,000 acres has been disturbed to date, and no additional acres would be disturbed over the next 10 years. These acres would be irreversibly and irretrievably committed to their present use. This would result in a minimal to total reduction of their associated natural resource services.

5.7.2.2 Tonopah Test Range

The only irreversible and irretrievable commitment that would occur is if contaminant migration was such that future remediation were rendered to be uneconomic.

5.7.2.3 Project Shoal and Central Nevada Test Areas

Contaminated mud pits at the Project Shoal and Central Nevada Test Areas would remain irreversible and irretrievable commitments to a restricted land use in their vicinity. In addition, the subsurface area at the cavity locations and any associated groundwater contaminated above EPA drinking water standards would represent an irreversible and irretrievable commitment of their associated natural resource services.

5.7.3 Alternative 3

The irreversible and irretrievable commitment of resources that would result under Alternative 3 is presented for the NTS, the Tonopah Test Range, theProject Shoal Area, the Central Nevada Test Area, Eldorado Valley, Dry Lake Valley, and Coyote Spring Valley.

5.7.3.1 Nevada Test Site

Developed areas like Mercury, Area 12 Camp, Area 25 Complex, Control Point 1, and so on are likely to remain in an urban or industrial configuration. Thus, a long-term commitment exists that would preclude alternative, nonurban use. Natural habitat productivity at these locations would be reduced. Even with removal of the structures and infrastructure, completely natural conditions would be unlikely to be achieved.

Although technically reversible through excavation and clean closure, use of the radioactive waste management facilities for waste disposal would result in an irreversible and irretrievable land use commitment of the sites and surrounding buffer areas. Land use would be severely restricted as would access to the subsurface. Some surface areas would be rehabilitated upon closure and would provide natural habitat, but little other human use. Most closures would be designed using rock armor to inhibit vegetation or burrowing by animals. Sanitary and construction landfills would represent an irreversible and irretrievable commitment of the subsurface and some limitation of the surface uses. Rehabilitation of the surface upon closure would make the sites available as natural habitat.

Underground nuclear tests would represent, in large part, an irreversible and irretrievable commitment of the subsurface for any subsequent use. The surface above an underground nuclear test would be restricted from all access if cratering has not occurred. Where cratering has occurred, some limited surface use would be permissible. Underground subcritical experiments would result in an irreversible and irretrievable commitment of the mined cavity for any subsequent use. Following subcritical experiments, the land surface would be unaffected and unrestricted.

Decontamination and decommissioning activities would produce mixed results depending on the remedy selected. Entombment would result in an irretrievable and irreversible commitment of the surface or associated subsurface for most land use. Most decontamination and decommissioningactivities would result in either decontamination and consequent availability of the facility for other use or demolition of the facility and disposal. Reuse would entail the facility remaining in an industrial mode, which represents a long-term commitment to that type of land use. Demolition of the facility would result the land's availability for other development or for site rehabilitation and use as natural habitat.

Although technically reversible through excavation and clean closure, closure in place would result in an irreversible and irretrievable commitment for those Resource Conservation and Recovery Act industrial sites that are so treated. Land use above these sites and in a surrounding buffer zone would be severely constrained. Rehabilitation by revegetation would permit their functioning as natural habitat, but closures would likely be designed using rock armor to inhibit vegetation or burrowing by animals.

Continued airspace restriction would represent an irreversible and irretrievable commitment of that access to government use only.

Energy and materials utilized in the construction, operation, maintenance, decontamination, demolition, and closure of the facilities would be irreversibly and irretrievably committed. Detonation of high or nuclear explosives would be an irreversible and irretrievable commitment of energy resources. Additional projects, including the alternative energy developments, would constitute a greater commitment of resources than would Alternative 1.

Continued restriction of harvest of products like game, pine nuts, or grass and maintenance of areas in development that precludes their natural productivity would represent an irretrievable commitment of resources. However, the area of the NTS that is developed or committed to such use asradioactive waste disposal is a small fraction of the total area.

Removal of soils for environmental restoration projects would result in their irreversible and irretrievable loss since they would be landfilled, and any associated natural resource services that they provide would be lost as well. See Section 4.1.6, Biological Resources (FLORA), for a description of variables that influence natural plant succession rates, revegetation techniques, and revegetation success. Where suitable subsoils occur with acceptable parameters (e.g., low soluble salts, appropriate texture, and adequate quantities to ensure plant establishment and rooting), they could be used directly for revegetation. Subsoils could be amended, if necessary, to provide a suitable substrate for plant establishment and growth. Amendments would be based on a site evaluation of what soil resources are available and prevailing site conditions (e.g., climatic conditions). See Section 5.1.1.4 for a discussion of reclamation options. Environmental restoration would involve up to about 9,800 acres, most of which have been previously disturbed. The amount that would be redisturbed during remediation depends, first, upon the levels of contamination that would be determined during characterization and, second, upon the agreements reached with the state of Nevada regarding cleanup levels.

The conduct of one or more underground nuclear tests would result in an undetermined impact on ground water quality if it occurred in or near the water table. Any groundwater contamination in excess of EPA drinking water standards would constitute an irreversible and irretrievable commitment of a presently unquantifiable amount of water. Similarly, any contamination of groundwater above EPA drinking water standards at the existing underground test cavity locations would represent an irreversible and irretrievable commitment of the resource.

The subsurface area and geologic values at the existing and potential future underground test cavity locations would represent an irreversible and irretrievable commitment of their associated natural resource services.

A total of 1.1 x 10⁷ m³ per year (2.9 x 10⁹ gal/yr) of water would be used to support all NTS programs under Alternative 3. This water would represent an irreversible and irretrievable commitment of this resource.

Electric usage would total 1.4 x 10⁶ kW hrs/month, while fuel usage would total 1,427 m³ per month (376,987 gal/month).

A total of about 59,000 acres has been disturbed to date, and approximately 15,600 more acres would be disturbed over the next 10 years. With the exception of some of those areas that would be remediated under the Environmental Restoration Program, most of these acres would be irreversibly and irretrievably committed to their present and proposed use. This would result in a minimal to total reduction of their associated natural resource services.

When an activity cannot be relocated, cultural resources must be removed in the process of data recovery. To the extent that this action precludes future data recovery using improved technology, it would represent an irreversible and irretrievable commitment of the information value represented.If cultural resources exist in an area too highly contaminated to survey or to conduct data recovery, these resources may be lost when remediation disturbs the surface. This is an irreversible and irretrievable loss of the information value that such resources contain. Vandalism and illicit artifact collecting within archaeologically sensitive areas are likely to result in irreversible and irretrievable loss of their information value.

5.7.3.2 Tonopah Test Range

Much of the activity at the Tonopah Test Range takes place on the playas, hence surface disturbance would produce no effects on most other resources. No new surface disturbance would occur under Alternative 3. Removal of soils for environmental restoration projects would result in their irreversible and irretrievable loss since they would be landfilled, and any associated natural resource services that they provide would be lost as well. Environmental restoration activities could involve several hundred acres, most of which has been previously disturbed. The amount that would be redisturbed duringremediation depends, first, upon the levels of contamination that would be determined during characterization and, second, upon the agreements reached with the state of Nevada regarding cleanup levels. With the exception of some of those areas that would be remediated under the Environmental Restoration Program, most of these acres would be irreversibly and irretrievably committed to their present use. This would result in a minimal to total reduction of their associated natural resource services.

Other irreversible and irretrievable losses may result from vandalism and illicit artifact collecting.

5.7.3.3 Project Shoal and Central Nevada Test Areas.

About 10 acres at the Project Shoal Area and 40 acres at the Central Nevada Test Area would be disturbed through environmental remediation. Most of these areas were previously disturbed, so this would represent a setback in the ecological succession that has occurred. In addition, the subsurface area at the cavity locations and any associated groundwater contaminated above EPA drinking water standards would represent an irreversible and irretrievable commitment of their associated natural resource services.

5.7.3.4 Eldorado Valley, Dry Lake Valley, and Coyote Spring Valley

The irreversible and irretrievable commitment of resources resulting from the construction and operation of a Solar Enterprise Zone facility in Eldorado, Dry Lake, or Coyote Spring Valleys would be the same and are presented in the following section. Ecologicalproductivity would be greatly reduced or completely stopped during the period of time in which the Solar Enterprise Zone facility would be operating. The ecosystem's contribution would be irretrievably lost for that period of time and would likely never return to its present status.

The use of materials for construction would be an irreversible and irretrievable long-term commitment of the resources.

Construction of roads in areas proposed for solar generating facilities is likely to result in a greater incidence of vandalism and illicit artifact collecting within archaeologically sensitive areas. This could result in an irreversible and irretrievable loss of their information value.

5.7.4 Alternative 4

The irreversible and irretrievable commitment of resources that would result under Alternative 4 is presented for the NTS, the Tonopah Test Range, the Project Shoal Area, the Central Nevada Test Area, Eldorado Valley, Dry Lake Valley, and Coyote Spring Valley.

5.7.4.1 Nevada Test Site

Developed areas like Mercury, Area 12 Camp, Area 25 Complex, and Control Point 1 are likely to remain in an urban or industrial land use. Thus, a long-term land-use commitment exists that would preclude alternative, nonurban use. Natural habitat productivity at these locations would be reduced. Even with removal of the structures and infrastructure, completely natural conditions would be unlikely to be achieved.

Although technically reversible through excavation and clean closure, use of the radioactive waste management facilities for waste disposal would result in an irreversible and irretrievable commitment of the sites and surrounding buffer areas. Land use would be severely restricted aswould access to the subsurface. Some surface areas would be rehabilitated upon closure and would provide natural habitat, but little other human use. Most closures would be designed using rock armor to inhibit vegetation or burrowing by animals. Sanitary and construction landfills would represent an irreversible and irretrievable commitment of the subsurface and some limitation of the surface use.

Past underground nuclear tests would represent, in large part, a continuing irreversible and irretrievable commitment of the subsurface for any subsequent use. The surface above an underground test would be restricted from all access if cratering has not occurred. Where cratering has occurred, some limited surface use would be permissible.

Decontamination and decommissioning activities would produce mixed results depending on the remedy selected. Entombment would result in an irretrievable and irreversible commitment of the surface or associated subsurface for most land use. Most decontamination and decommissioning activities would result in either decontamination and consequent availability of the facility for other use or demolition of the facility and disposal. Reuse would entail the facility remaining in an industrial mode that represents a long-term commitment to that type of land use. Demolition of the facility would result in the land's availability for other development or for site rehabilitation and use as a natural habitat.

Although technically reversible through excavation and clean closure, closure in place would result in an irreversible and irretrievable commitment for those Resource Conservation and Recovery Act industrial sites that are so treated. Land use at these sites and in a surrounding buffer zone would be severely constrained. Rehabilitation by revegetation would permit their functioning as natural habitat, but closures would likely be designed using rock armor to inhibit vegetation or burrowing by animals.

Energy and materials utilized in the construction, operation, maintenance, decontamination, demolition, and closure of facilities would be irreversibly and irretrievably committed.

Industrial accidents resulting in injuries at the NTS could, depending on the type of injury, represent an irreversible and irretrievable commitment of human resources.

Continued restriction of harvest of annually perishable products like some game, pine nuts, or grass and maintenance of areas in development that precludes their natural productivity, represents an irretrievable commitment of resources. However, the area of the NTS that is developed or committed to such use as radioactive waste disposal is a small fraction of the total area.

Removal of soils for environmental restoration projects would result in their irreversible and irretrievable loss since they would be landfilled, and any associated natural resource services that they provide would be lost as well. Environmental restoration activities would involve up to about 9,800 acres, most of which has been previously disturbed. The amount that would be redisturbed during remediation depends, first, upon the levels of contamination that would be determined during characterization and, second, upon the agreements reached with the state of Nevada regarding cleanup levels.

Any contamination of groundwater above EPA drinking water standards at the existing underground test cavity locations would represent an irreversible and irretrievable commitment of the resource.

The subsurface area and geologic values at the existing underground test cavity locations would represent an irreversible and irretrievable commitment of their associated natural resource services.

A total of8.1 x 10⁶ m³ per year (2.1 x 10⁹ gal/yr) of water would be used to support all NTS programs under Alternative 4. This water would represent an irreversible and irretrievable commitment of this resource.

Electric usage would total 4.6 x 10⁶ kW hrs/month, while fuel usage would total 461 m³ per month (121,671 gal/month) that would represent anirreversible and irretrievable commitment of the energy resources.

A total of about 59,000 acres has been disturbed to date and approximately14,400 more acres would be disturbed over the next 10 years. With the exception of some of the areas that would be remediated under the Environmental Restoration Program, most of these acres would be irreversibly and irretrievably committed to their present and proposed use. This would result in a minimal to total reduction of their associated natural resource services.

When an activity cannot be relocated, cultural resources must be removed in the process of data recovery. To the extent that this action precludes future data recovery using improved technology, it would represent an irreversible and irretrievable commitment of the information value represented.If cultural resources exist in an area too highly contaminated to survey or to conduct data recovery, these resources may be lost when remediation disturbs the surface. This is an irreversible and irretrievable loss of the information value that such resources contain. Vandalism and illicit artifact collecting within archaeologically sensitive areas are likely to result in irreversible and irretrievable loss of their information value.

5.7.4.2 Tonopah Test Range

Much of the activity at the Tonopah Test Range takes place on the playas hence, surface disturbance would produce no effects on most other resources. No new surface disturbance would occur under Alternative 4. Removal of soils for environmental restoration projects would result in their irreversible and irretrievable loss since they would be landfilled, and any associated natural resource services that they provide would be lost as well. Environmental restoration could involve several hundred acres, most of which has been previously disturbed. The amount that would be redisturbed during remediation depends first, upon the levels of contamination which would be determined during characterization and second, upon the agreements reached with the state of Nevada regarding cleanup levels. With the exception of some of the areas that would be remediated under the Environmental Restoration Program, most of the acres would be irreversibly and irretrievably committed to theirpresent use. This would result in a minimal to total reduction of their associated natural resource services.

Other irreversible and irretrievable losses may result from vandalism and illicit artifact collecting.

5.7.4.3 Project Shoal and Central Nevada Test Areas.

About 10 acres at the Project Shoal Area and 40 acres at the Central Nevada Test Area would be disturbed through environmental remediation. Most of these areas were previously disturbed, so this would represent a setback in the ecological succession that has occurred. In addition, the subsurface area at the cavity locations and any associated groundwater contaminated above EPA drinking water standards would represent an irreversible and irretrievable commitment of their associated natural resource services.

Other irreversible and irretrievable losses may result from vandalism and illicit artifact collecting.

5.7.4.4 Eldorado Valley, Dry Lake Valley, and Coyote Spring Valley

The irreversible and irretrievable commitment of resources resulting from the construction and operation of a Solar Enterprise Zone facility in Eldorado Valley, DryLake Valley, or Coyote Spring Valley would be the same and are presented in this section. Ecological productivity would be greatly reduced or completely stopped during the period of time in which the plant is operating. The ecosystem's contribution would be irretrievably lost for that period of time and would likely never return to its present status.

Some cultural resource site data recovery represents, to a degree, an irreversible and irretrievable commitment of the potential information resource represented. This is because the recovery in the future of some information would be precluded due to the limited capability of present technology to recover certain information. Construction of roads in areas proposed for solar-generating facilities is likely to result in a greater incidence of vandalism and illicit artifact collecting within archaeologically sensitive areas. This could result in an irreversible and irretrievable loss of their information value.

The use of materials for construction would be an irretrievable and irreversible long-term commitment of the resources.

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5.7.3.3 Project Shoal and Central Nevada Test Areas.

5.7.4.3 Project Shoal and Central Nevada Test Areas.