Laserfiche WebLink
2.11 Animal Tissue Sampling Program <br />Consumption of game animals and/or domesticated meat sources is not expected to be a <br />significant pathway; thus, it is probably unnecessary to collect and analyze animal tissue as part <br />of establishing environmental site conditions. Fish are not available for sampling since there are <br />no perennial streams or bodies of water in the immediate project vicinity that support fish <br />populations. There are no large cattle operations in the vicinity of the proposed project site that <br />constitute a food pathway to humans. Game animals (pronghorn and game birds) are mobile and <br />are not connected to a specific location. Researchers at Colorado State University (CSU) <br />studying uptake of radionuclides from a uranium mill site have shown a concentration ratio of <br />0.03 to 0.007 for soils to plants (Simon and Ibrahim 1990), and negligible uptake and effects on <br />birds and mammals (Whicker 1972). <br />Nevertheless, prairie dogs were sampled for radionuclide concentrations for specific uptake on <br />the proposed project site6. The prairie dog study for radionuclide uptake and concentrations in a <br />small mammal provides baseline information on the current status of the relationship of natural <br />radionuclides in a species of interest. The prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) was selected as <br />the best animal for study for the following reasons: <br />• It is a semifossorial (burrowing and ground-dwelling) animal that inhabits a series of <br />burrows in a specific location. Main burrows are 3-5 feet deep and may extend to 14 feet <br />below ground. <br />• The animals live underground and forage on vegetation in the immediate vicinity of their <br />burrows. <br />• The baseline study can be replicated during operations and post-operations to compare <br />concentrations over time. <br />As shown on Plate 2, ten prairie dogs were harvested on property owned by Powertech in the <br />NW '/ Section 14, T8N, R67W in Weld County. From each animal, a tissue sample and bone <br />sample were submitted for analysis. Prior to sampling, a Colorado Division of Wildlife <br />(CDOW) scientific collections permit was obtained, and the local District Wildlife Manager was <br />notified of the activity prior to harvesting. All salvaged tissue was double-bagged (flesh and <br />bone separate) in one-gallon zip-lock freezer bags, labeled, and placed in a cooler of ice within <br />three hours. Viscera and skin were discarded. One prairie dog (both flesh and bone) was split <br />into separate sample bags to serve as a field duplicate. Only a single sampling event was <br />performed. All samples were double-bagged, placed in a cooler of ice and shipped with the <br />6 Fish are not available for sampling since there are no perennial streams or bodies of water in the <br />immediate project vicinity that support fish populations. <br />April 2009 14 Site Characterization Plan