AFFECTED ENVIRONMENTS
This chapter contains the description of the
existing environmental conditions of the Nevada Test Site (NTS), the Tonopah
Test Range, portions of the Nellis Air Force Range (NAFR) Complex, the Project
Shoal Area, the Central Nevada Test Area, Eldorado Valley, Dry Lake Valley, and
Coyote Spring Valley (Figure 4-1
).
During Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) preparation, the most up-to-date and
accurate information available was used to describe existing environments,
facilities, activities, and projects. The information serves as a baseline from
which to identify and evaluate environmental changes resulting from the proposed
alternatives. The baseline conditions, for the purposes of analysis, are the
conditions that currently exist. The regions of influence vary, as dictated by
the resources under consideration. For some discussions, such as site-support
activities, the regions of influence are limited to the areas circumscribed by
each U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) administrative boundary. For other topics,
such as transportation, groundwater, and air quality, the regions of influence
are much larger and may include all of southern Nevada, as well as portions of
Utah, Arizona, and California.
The environmental resources discussed in this chapter include land use,
geology and soils, hydrology, biology, air quality, noise, and visual and
cultural resources. Where applicable, this chapter also describes existing
waste management facilities and other resource elements, including airspace,
site-support activities, transportation, socioeconomics, occupational and public
health and safety, radiological conditions, and Environmental Justice.
The discussions of the DOE administrative units are organized according to
their relative geographic proximity to one another. Because the NTS and the
NAFR Complex share a boundary and because the units of interest are within 97 km
(60 mi) of each other, they are discussed together in the next section. The
Tonopah Test Range, Project Shoal Area, Central Nevada Test Area, Eldorado
Valley,Dry Lake Valley, and Coyote Spring Valley are discussed separately in
subsequent sections.
The existing environmental conditions of the NTS and portions of the NAFR
Complex are described in this section. The portion of the NAFR Complex that is
described is limited to Area 13.
The NTS, a unique national resource managed by the U.S. Department of
Energy, Nevada Operations Office (DOE/NV), is located about 105 km (65 mi)
northwest of Las Vegas. The
3,496 km
2
(
1,350 mi2) site features desert and
mountainous terrain and is larger than Rhode Island, making it one of the
largest secured areas in the United States. The NTS is in a remote and arid
region, surrounded by federal installations, with strictly controlled access,
and public lands that are open to public entry.
The following information pertaining to the NTS is provided by the American
Indian Writers Subgroup of the Consolidated Group of Tribes and Organizations
(CGTO). Information provided by the American Indians is italicized in this EIS
to distinguish it from DOE text.
For many centuries, the NTS has been a central place in the
lives of American Indian tribes. The NTS and nearby lands contain
traditional gathering, ceremonial, and recreational areas for the
American Indian people. From antiquity to contemporary times, this area
has been used continuously by many tribes. It contains numerous ceremonial
resources and power places that are crucial for the continuation of
American Indian culture, religion, and society. Until the mid-1900s,
traditional festivals involving religious and secular activities
attracted American Indian people to the area from as far as San
Bernardino, California. Similarly, groups came to the area from
a broad region during the hunting season and used animaland plant
resources that were crucial for their survival and cultural practices.
Figure 4-1. NTS and selected areas of interest
Despite the loss of some traditional lands to pollution and
reduced access, the American Indian people have neither lost their ancestral
ties to nor have forgotten their cultural resources on the NTS. There
is continuity in the American Indian use of and broad cultural ties to
the NTS. American Indian people have cared for the NTS resources and
will continue to do so.
Land resources are important considerations for decisions regarding site
use. The land-use analysis determines if there is enough land available for the
proposed facilities and required buffers, and identifies conflicts between the
proposed project and existing or projected on- and off-site land use. These
analyses are necessary to determine whether public lands would be managed in a
manner consistent with existing and projected land uses. To make decisions with
respect to locating facilities at the NTS, the DOE must consider several issues,
particularly the constraints and opportunities related to land resources. These
include whether conflicts exist with the administrative framework and whether
adequate resources are available and viable.
The known land-use constraints and opportunities at the NTS are outlined in
this section and described throughout this chapter. Land-use constraints
include those features of the NTS, either natural or manmade, that preclude or
limit the future activities that can be conducted in a specific location or
area. Opportunities are the best and highest uses of the land that can be
accomplished within the constraints. Further definition of land-use
opportunities and constraints is planned as part of the Framework for the
Resource Management Plan (see Volume 2).
Many of the constraints identified throughout Chapter 4 are those resulting
from historic land uses, primarily nuclear weapons, rocket and related nuclear
testing activities, and
to a lesser extent,
radioactive waste management activities. Many of these constraints on land use
were identified in the Final Environmental Impact Statement, NevadaTest
Site,
Nye County, Nevada (ERDA, 1977)
as unavoidable adverse impacts or irreversible actions with irretrievable
commitments of resources. Because of the nature of many historic activities and
their consequences, specifically the introduction of radionuclides into
environmental media, land use will continue to be constrained in some areas of
the NTS during the 10-year period covered by this EIS, and likely well into the
future. These constraints, and the specific environmental media that are
affected, are summarized at the end of this section.
Natural constraints, such as unstable soils or ecologically sensitive areas,
are described in the appropriate sections of Chapter 4 (i.e., Geology and Soils
and Biological Resources). Land-use opportunities under baseline (i.e.,
existing environmental and administrative) conditions are presented throughout
the remainder of Chapter 4, beginning in
Section 4.1.1.1
.
The remainder of this section summarizes the constraints to land use resulting
from the fulfillment of the DOE's missions at the NTS.
Based upon the more than 40 years of operations and information
gathered, many of the consequences of past weapons
testing and other activities are well understood and documented. Many of the
consequences described in this chapter were previously presented in the Final
Environmental Impact Statement, Nevada Test Site,
Nye County, Nevada (ERDA, 1977).
While not all of the consequences of historic actions at the NTS and adjacent
areas have been fully defined, this section presents an overview of their
resulting constraints and establishes a baseline of current conditions. The
baseline serves as a basis for evaluating the potential impacts of future
actions. Because of the complexity of some issues, a full understanding that
removes all uncertainty may never be achieved. Nonetheless, the DOE continues,
through many of the programs and actions described in this EIS, to address the
remaining data deficiencies and uncertainties.
For purposes of discussion, the past activities at the NTS have been grouped
into eight categories. In this section, a brief historical overview is
provided, and the known consequences and resultingconstraints on use of the
physical environment are presented.
Eight historic activities, and their consequences, are included in the
baseline discussion within this chapter:
Atmospheric Weapons TestingA total of 100 atmospheric
detonations were conducted before the Limited Test Ban Treaty was signed in
August 1963. Atmospheric tests include tests conducted at ground level, from
towers or balloons, or by airdrops.
Of the 100
atmospheric tests, 16 were safety tests. By design, these safety tests produced
little or no nuclear yield.
Underground Nuclear TestingApproximately 800 underground
nuclear tests have been conducted at the NTS. The types of tests conducted
include deep underground tests used to study weapons effects, designs, safety,
and reliability, and shallow borehole tests used to study the peaceful
application of nuclear devices for cratering.
The 70
underground safety tests conducted
on the
NTS, by design, produced little or no nuclear yield.
Safety TestsBetween late 1954 and June 1963, 16 tests were
conducted
aboveground to test the
vulnerability of certain weapon designs to possible
accidents. At a location in Area 5, 24 experiments, utilizing relatively small
quantities of plutonium, were conducted between 1954 and 1956. These
experiments, known as the GMX Project, were so-called "equation-of-state"
studies where "instantaneous" changes in the physical properties of
plutonium materials subjected to detonations from conventional explosives were
measured. By design, these experiments produced little or no nuclear yield.
Safety tests are no longer conducted aboveground; all such tests are
performed underground in emplacements that are designed so that radioactive
materials will not reach aboveground environments (AEC, 1972; AEC, 1973a; ERDA,
1976; ERDA, 1977). Impacts to soils that resulted from these historic
activities are described further in Chapter 4,
Section
4.1.4.3.
Nuclear Rocket Development StationTwenty-six experimental
tests of reactors, nuclear engines, ramjets, and nuclear furnaces were conducted
between 1959 and 1973.
Shallow Land Radioactive Waste Disposal Some wastes generated
during the testing program, and as a result of nuclear projects, were disposed
of in shallow cells, pits, and trenches. Because of the site's characteristics,
notably the absence of a groundwater pathway, shallow burial continues to be an
important waste disposal activity.
Crater DisposalContaminated soils and equipment collected
during the decontamination of atmospheric testing areas and the consolidation of
radioactively contaminated structures, and other bulk wastes, were disposed of
in subsidence craters in Yucca Flat.
Greater Confinement DisposalIn 1981, greater confinement
disposal of waste was initiated at Area 5 for certain radioactive low-level
wastes not suitable for shallow land disposal.
Site-SupportLike any large facility, the NTS
has a large infrastructure that provides all site-support services. Food and
housing services, paint shops, vehicle maintenance facilities, machine shops,
road maintenance, and other on-site facilities all produce more common
short-term impacts, such as localized land disturbance, air emissions, and
noise. Site-support facilities are associated with NTS land-use opportunities.
Table 4-1
and
Figure 4-2
provide information on the
key characteristics of the historic activities that have occurred on the NTS and
now constrain the future use of certain NTS land areas.
Figure 4-2
summarizes the historical
activities and identifies the media of concern in the physical environment that
could constrain their future use.
Table 4-1
lists
information on the nature of the source, the type of area involved, the media
affected, the principal contaminants, the depth, and the best available estimate
of the remaining inventory of radioactivity. It should be noted that in some
cases only approximate values are available; these values are presented solely
to illustrate the general characteristics of each source group and to highlight
the differences between the groups.
More detailed information for each affected resource is included in the
specific resource discussions in this chapter.
Section
4.1.1.5,
Waste Management Program, describes the existing waste management
operations at the NTS, including the locations, types of materials managed, and
the quantities of radioactive and nonradioactive wastes that have been disposed.
Section 4.1.2.3,
Transportation of Materials and
Wastes, identifies the out-of-state waste generators that ship low-level waste
to the NTS for disposal.
In
Section 4.1.4.2
, the baseline
geological conditions are described. The geology
baseline documents the physical disturbances to the subsurface environment that
have resulted from 35 years of underground nuclear testing.
Section 4.1.4.3
, Soils, identifies the
historical activities, such as atmospheric nuclear testing, safety tests, and
nuclear rocket and reactor experiments that have resulted in contamination of
surface soils. The extent and degree of contamination is also explained.
The NTS encompasses 3,496 km
2
(1,350 mi
2) of land area reserved to the jurisdiction of the DOE.
Figure 4-3
shows the land area as it has been
withdrawn through all forms of appropriation under the public land laws,
including mining and mineral-leasing laws through the public land orders and a
Memorandum of Understanding. Under Public Land Order 805 (February 12, 1952),
approximately 435,000 acres of land were reserved for use by the Atomic Energy
Commission as a weapons testing site. Under Public Land Order 1662 (June 20,
1958), 38,400 acres were reserved for the use of the Atomic Energy Commission in
connection with the NTS.
The lands described under this
Public Land Order are not considered in any alternative use by the
DOE and are, therefore, not addressed in this EIS.
Under Public Land Order 2568 (December 19, 1961), 318,000 acres of land
previously reserved for use by the U.S. Air Force were transferred to the
jurisdiction of the Atomic Energy Commission for use in connection with the NTS
for test facilities,roads, utilities, and safety distances. Under Public Land
Order 3759 (August 3, 1965), 21,108 acres of land were reserved for the
jurisdiction of the Atomic Energy Commission for use in connection with the NTS.
Pahute Mesa, located in the northern portions of Areas 19 and 20, which
encompasses 106,240 acres, is managed by the DOE as a part of the NTS in
accordance with a 1963 Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S. Air Force.
This memorandum was superseded by a Memorandum of Understanding between the U.S.
Air Force and DOE/NV in 1982 (DoD, 1982).
In 1983, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, in accordance with the Federal
Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, conducted a review of the existing four
land withdrawals that comprise the NTS. The U.S. Bureau of Land Management
District Manager concurred with the review's conclusion that the lands were
still being used for the purpose for which they were withdrawn. Furthermore,
in recognition of a potential end of testing in
future years, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management recommended that the land
withdrawals again be reviewed in 100 years.
The NTS is located in Nye County in southern Nevada; its southernmost point is located
about 105 km (65 mi) northwest of Las Vegas, Nevada. The site varies from 46 to
56 km (28 to 35 mi) in width and 64 to 88 km (40 to 55 mi) in length (north to
south).
The DOE is in the process of developing a Resource Management
Plan. The goal of the Resource Management Plan will be to
establish a process for managing the facilities and national resources of the
NTS to ensure long-term diversity and productivity of natural ecosystems and
sustain the use of land and facilities at the NTS. The DOE will use this
process to evaluate the selection, design, and location of existing and proposed
activities. This process will identify the criteria for evaluating the
compatibility of these activities with public values, ongoing missions, existing
infrastructure, cultural and natural resources, human health and safety, and
other resources and land-use constraints on the NTS.
Table 4-1. Summary of radioactivity on the NTS as of January 1996
|
Source of Radioactivity |
Type of Area |
Environmental
Media |
Major Known Isotopes or Wastes |
Depth Range |
Amount (curies) |
| Atmospheric & Tower Tests |
Above Ground Nuclear Weapon Proving Area |
Surficial Soils & Test Structures |
Americium
Cesium
Cobalt
Plutonium
Europium
Strontium |
At Land Surface |
Approximately 20 |
| Safety
Tests |
Above Ground Experimental Areas |
Surficial Soils |
Americium
Cesium
Cobalt
Plutonium
Strontium |
Less than 0.9 m (3 ft) |
Approximately 35 |
| Nuclear Rocket Development
Area |
Nuclear Rocket Motor, Reactor, & Furnace Testing Area |
Surficial Soils |
Cesium
Strontium |
Less than 3 m (10 ft) |
Approximately 1 |
| Shallow Borehole Tests |
Underground Nuclear Testing Areas |
Soils & Alluvium |
Americium
Cesium
Cobalt
Europium
Plutonium
Strontium |
Less than 61 m (200 ft) |
Approximately 2,000 at land surface; unknown at depth |
| Shallow Land Disposal |
Waste Disposal Landfills |
Soils & Alluvium |
Dry Packaged Low-level & Mixed Wastes |
Less than 9 m (30 ft) |
Approximately 500,000a |
| Crater Disposal |
Test induced subsidence crater with sidewalls, cover, & drainage |
Soils & Alluvium |
Bulk contaminated soils & equipment |
Less than 30 m (100 ft) |
Approximately 1,250a (Approximately 205,000 m3
[7,250,000 ft3])b |
| Greater Confinement Disposal |
Monitored Underground Waste Disposal Borehole |
Soils & Alluvium |
Tritium
Americium |
37 m (120 ft) |
Approximately 9.3 milliona (Approximately 300 m3
[10,000 ft3])b |
| Deep Underground Tests |
Underground Nuclear Testing Areas |
Soils, Alluvium, & Consolidated Rock |
Tritium,
fission, &
activation products |
Typically less than 640 m (2,100 ft), but may be deeper |
Greater than 300 million |
| a Inventory at time of disposal (not corrected for
decay)
b Amount of waste that was considered for inventory. |
Existing land use on the NTS is divided into two site categories and
seven zone categories. The site and zone category
definitions are as follows:
Industrial, Research, and Support SiteAn industrial site is
used for the manufacturing, processing, and/or fabrication of articles,
substances, or commodities. A research site is usedfor projects to verify
theories or concepts under controlled conditions. Support sites are used for
office space, training,
equipment storage,
maintenance, security, feeding and housing, fire protection services, and health
services.
Waste Management SiteA site used
for the disposal, storage, and/or treatment of wastes.
Figure 4-2. Types and depth horizons of radioactivity
that remains on the NTS
Figure 4-3. NTS land withdrawals and Memorandum of Understanding
Nuclear Test ZoneLand area reserved for underground
hydrodynamic tests, dynamic experiments, and underground nuclear weapons and
weapons effects tests.
The stockpile stewardship
emplacement hole inventory is located within this zone (Appendix A,
Figure A-1
).
Nuclear and High Explosive Test ZoneLand area designated
within the Nuclear Test Zone for additional underground and aboveground
high-explosive tests or experiments.
Research, Test, and Experiment ZoneLand area designated for
small-scale research, development projects, pilot projects, and outdoor tests
and experiments for the development, quality assurance, or reliability of
materials and equipment under controlled conditions.
Radioactive Waste Management ZoneLand area designated for the
shallow land burial of low-level and mixed wastes.
Critical Assembly ZoneLand area used for conducting nuclear
explosive operations. Operations generally include assembly, disassembly or
modification, staging, repair, retrofit, and surveillance. The potential for
weapons storage also exists in this zone.
Spill Test Facility Impact ZoneA downwind geographic area that
would confine the impacts of the largest planned tests of materials released at
the Spill Test Facility.
Reserved ZoneControlled-access land area that provides a
buffer between nondefense research, development, and testing activities. The
Reserved Zone includes areas and facilities that provide widespread flexible
support for diverse short-term nondefense research, testing, and
experimentation. This land area is also used for short-duration exercises and
training, such as Nuclear Emergency Search Team and Federal Radiological
Monitoring and Assessment Center training, and U.S. Department of Defense (DoD)
land navigation exercises and training.
To simplify the distribution, use, and control of resources, the NTS is also
divided into numberedareas. The following pages contain an area-by-area
description of land use on the NTS. Refer to
Chapter 3
, Figure 3-1.
Area 1As a part of the Nuclear Test Zone, this
area occupies 70 km
2 (27 mi
2) near the center of the
Yucca Flat weapons test basin. Four atmospheric nuclear tests were conducted
here between 1952 and 1955. Three underground nuclear tests have also been
detonated in Area 1, one in 1971 and two in 1990.
Buildings and structures
associated with above-ground nuclear testing are
discussed in Section 4.1.10
and listed in Table
4-37 as NT (Nuclear Testing). Although many of these structures
are believed to be eligible, no official evaluation or
determination of eligibility has been conducted. Should any of these
structures be affected by project activities, an
evaluation would be completed, eligibility determined, and consultation with the
Nevada State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) would be conducted prior to
initialing the project. The project would be conducted in accordance with SHPO
recommendations.
The Lyner Complex is a mined underground complex in Area 1 that is available
for dynamic experiments
(including subcritical
experiments involving special nuclear material) and hydrodynamic tests
that cannot be conducted aboveground because they may contain hazardous
materials.
Initial work on what is now known as the
Lyner Complex began in the late 1960s with the mining of the U1a shaft to a
depth of 305 meters (m) (1,000 feet [ft]) for a nuclear test. It was not used.
Further work took place in the 1980s and early 1990s to develop a complex that
could be used to perform intentionally designed low-yield tests or experiments,
which included safety tests, and other experiments that would be expected to
remain subcritical or produce negligible nuclear energy release. The Ledoux
nuclear test with a yield of less than 25 kilotons was conducted in 1990 in a
drift within this tunnel complex. The Kismet experiment, involving high
explosives, tritium, depleted uranium, and other materials, was a dynamic
experiment conducted in the Lyner Complex in March 1995. Both Ledoux and
Kismetwere contained to prevent radiological releases to the rest of the Lyner
Complex and the surface environment.
The Area 1 Industrial Complex, at the intersection of Pahute Mesa Road and
Tippipah Highway, is the maintenance and storage area for an over $20-million
inventory of large-hole drilling equipment and miscellaneous supplies. Typical
day-to-day operations include replacing worn cutters on a drill bit with new or
rebuilt cutters, straightening drill pipe and tubing, and other drilling tool
maintenance tasks. A concrete batch plant and storage area for bulk
construction material, as well as a shaker plant that produces stemming material
and concrete aggregate, lie to the north of the drilling yard.
There is one stockpile stewardship emplacement hole within Area 1 (Appendix
A,
Figure A-1
).
Area 2This area, within the Nuclear Test Zone,
occupies approximately 52 km
2 (20 mi
2) in the northern
half of the Yucca Flat basin. The eastern portion of Area 2 was the site of
seven atmospheric nuclear tests conducted between 1952 and 1957. The first in a
series of underground nuclear tests in Area 2 took place in late 1962 and
continued through 1990. A number of the 137 underground tests detonated in Area
2 were simultaneous detonations of multiple devices in the same emplacement
hole; other underground tests involved the firing of two or more devices with
the devices in separate
emplacement holes.
There are eleven stockpile stewardship emplacement holes
within
Area 2 (Appendix A,
Figure A-1
).
Most of the structures that comprised a former construction base camp
(consisting generally of Butler buildings, Quonset huts, and trailers) have been
relocated to Area 6, and the facilities remaining in Area 2 are in the process
of being moved to other locations or are being scrapped.
Area 3This portion of the Nuclear Test Zone occupies 8
2 km
2 (32 mi
2) near the center
of the Yucca Flat weapons test basin and was the site of 17 atmospheric tests
conducted between 1952 and 1958. A total of 251 underground nuclear testswere
conducted in Area 3 from 1958 through 1992. This is the largest number of tests
of any of the NTS underground test areas. A number of these tests consisted of
simultaneous device detonations, and nearly all of these simultaneous tests
consisted of single devices in separate emplacement holes. Nine of the
underground nuclear tests in Area 3 were conducted in unstemmed holes to
minimize, but not eliminate, the release of radioactivity to the atmosphere.
These unique tests were carried out between mid-1957 and late 1958.
There are four stockpile stewardship emplacement holes
within Area 3 (Appendix A, Figure A-1
).
Bulk low-level waste is disposed of in selected Area 3 subsidence craters
that, collectively, comprise the Area 3 Radioactive Waste Management Site. This
activity commenced in the mid-1960s when the DOE began removing scrap tower
steel, vehicles, and other large objects that had been subjected to atmospheric
testing. From 1979 to 1990, large amounts of contaminated soil and other debris
from the NTS were added to the craters. There are seven disposal craters. Two
craters are in use, two are full and temporarily capped, and three are in
reserve for potential future use.
Area 4This area, within the Nuclear Test Zone, occupies 41 km
2
(16 mi
2) near the center of the Yucca Flat basin. Area 4 was the
site of five atmospheric nuclear tests conducted between 1952 and 1957. From
the mid-1970s through 1991, a total of 35 underground nuclear tests were
conducted in Area 4, mainly in the northeast corner. Two of these tests involved
the simultaneous detonation of multiple devices in the same emplace ment hole.
The Big Explosives Experimental Facility in Area 4 is being evaluated for
its suitability as an operational complex for testing large charges of
conventional high explosives. Comprised of two earth-covered, steel-reinforced
concrete structures, one structure may serve as a manned operational control
room facility, and the other may serve as an unmanned camera room with viewing
ports to a gravel table where large charges of high explosives can be fired.
There are four stockpile stewardship emplacement holes in Area 4 (Appendix
A,
Figure A-1
).
Area 5This area, within the Reserved Zone, occupies some 246
km
2 (95 mi
2) in the southeastern portion of the site and
includes the Area 5 Radioactive Waste Management Site, the Hazardous Waste
Storage
Unit, and the Spill Test Facility.
From 1951 through early 1962, 14 atmospheric tests were conducted at
Frenchman Flat, several of which were weapons effects tests. Among the remains
of the structures tested in Frenchman Flat are simulated motel complexes, metal
frames that supported a variety of roofing materials, a window test structure,
cylindrical liquid storage vessels, reinforced concrete domes and aluminum
domes, bridge pedestals, and a bank vault; all of these remains are of
considerable historical interest. Five nuclear weapons tests were conducted
underground at Frenchman Flat between 1965 and 1968. However, the presence of
the carbonate aquifer makes this area less suitable for underground testing than
other locations on the NTS.
In the GMX area, 24 experiments, some utilizing
relatively small quantities of fissile materials, were conducted between 1954
and 1956. These experiments were so-called "equation-of-state"
studies where "instantaneous" changes in the physical properties of
plutonium materials subjected to detonations from conventional explosives were
measured. These experiments were conducted on or very near one place, and the
source can be considered to be at one site.
The Area 5 Radioactive Waste Management Site is located in a 732-acre
Radioactive Waste Management Zone used for low-level waste disposal. Mixed
waste, including transuranic mixed waste, has been disposed of at the site in
the past, and transuranic wastes are currently being stored there pending
disposal at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant near Carlsbad, New Mexico. Disposal
of waste at the NTS is discussed in
Section 4.1.1.5
.
The Hazardous Waste Storage Unit is an accumulation point for nonradioactive
materials, such as paints, chemicals, unused or surplus fuels,and other items.
Periodically, all hazardous wastes generated at the NTS are sent to permitted
commercial facilities for recycling, incineration, or disposal.
The Spill Test Facility is a complex of fuel tanks, spill pads,
meteorological and camera towers, equipment and control buildings, and a wind
tunnel used for releasing hazardous materials and measuring their behavior in
outdoor conditions.
Area 6This area occupies 212 km
2 (82 mi
2)
between Yucca Flat and Frenchman Flat, straddling Frenchman Mountain. Only one
atmospheric nuclear test was conducted in Area 6, and that was in 1957. Between
1968 and mid-1990, five under ground nuclear tests were conducted at this
location, two of which involved the simultaneous detonation of multiple devices
in separate emplacement holes.
There are two stockpile stewardship emplacement holes
in Area 6 (Appendix A, Figure A-1
).
The Control Point complex serves as the command center, air operations
center, and timing and firing center for the Yucca Flat weapons test basin,
Frenchman Flat, Pahute Mesa, and surrounding areas. Augmenting facilities near
the secured compound include a communications building, several radiological
sciences and technical services buildings, a fire and first-aid station, and
various maintenance and warehouse structures.
The Area 6 Construction Facilities provide craft and logistical support to
activities in the forward areas of the NTS. This forward area complex replaces
older construction base camps in Areas 2 and 3. Those elements comprising the
Yucca Lake facilities include a variety of equipment storage facilities, a
heavy- duty maintenance and equipment repair facility, and decontamination
facilities. A 3,353 m (11,000 ft) airstrip and nearby weather station also are
located on the Yucca Lake bed.
The Device Assembly Facility, when open, will be the primary location of all
nuclear explosive operations at the NTS. Nuclear explosive operations include
assembly, disassembly or modification, staging, transportation, testing,
maintenance, repair, retrofit, and surveillance. TheDevice Assembly Facility
contains about 9,290 m
2 (100,000 ft
2) of interior floor
space within a Critical Assembly Zone composed of approximately 22 acres.
The Hydrocarbon Contaminated Soils Disposal Site is an existing, state of
Nevada-approved, Class III landfill. All non-Resource Conservation and Recovery
Act-regulated hydrocarbon contaminated soils and materials generated on the NTS
are disposed of at this landfill.
Area 7This area, within the Nuclear Test Zone, occupies 52 km
2
(20 mi
2 ) in the northeast quadrant of the Yucca Flat weapons test
basin. Twenty-six atmospheric tests were conducted in this area. From late
1964 through the fall of 1991, a total of 62 underground nuclear tests were
carried out in Area 7, all consisting of a single nuclear device in a drilled
emplacement hole.
There are three stockpile stewardship emplacement holes in Area 7 (Appendix
A,
Figure A-1
).
Area 8This area, within the Nuclear Test Zone, occupies 34 km
2
(13 mi
2) in the northeast quadrant of the Yucca Flat weapons test
basin. Area 8 was the site of three atmospheric nuclear tests conducted in
1958. From mid-1966 through late 1988, 10 underground nuclear tests were
carried out at this location. Two of the underground tests involved the
simultaneous firing of multiple devices put in the same emplacement hole.
Underground shelter structures were tested in the late 1950s, and in 1964 these
shelters were used by the University of Florida for shelter habitability
studies. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory has conducted experiments in
this area.
Area 9This area, within the Nuclear Test Zone, occupies 52 km
2
(20 mi
2 ) in the northeast quadrant of the Yucca Flat weapons test
basin. Seventeen atmospheric tests were conducted in this area between 1951 and
1958. Area 9 has been used extensively for underground nuclear testing; 100
such tests were carried out from late 1961 to mid-1992. Of the dozen
underground tests involving the simultaneous detonation of multiple devices,
most involved the use of separateemplacement holes (two or more holes, each with
a single device).
There is one stockpile stewardship emplacement hole
in Area 9 (Appendix A, Figure A-1)
.
The Area 9 sanitary landfill is located in a subsidence crater formed as a
result of a subsurface nuclear detonation in the early 1960s. This Class II
landfill is allowed to receive all types of nonhazardous waste. In October
1995, the landfill underwent partial closure and will reopen as a Class III
construction and demolition debris landfill.
Area 10This area, incorporated in the Nuclear Test Zone,
occupies 54 km
2 (21 mi
2) in the northeast quadrant of
the Yucca Flat weapons test basin. Area 10 was the selected location for the
nation's first nuclear missile system test, an air-to-air rocket, detonated in
mid-1957. This was the only nuclear rocket test ever conducted at the NTS. Two
of the earliest shallow nuclear cratering experiments conducted at the NTS were
detonated in 1951 and 1955 at this location. Resuming with the deeply buried
Sedan cratering experiment in mid-1962 and extending through early 1991, a
number of underground nuclear tests were conducted in Area 10. Counting both
the cratering and contained underground tests, there were 57 nonatmospheric
nuclear tests. A number of the underground tests detonated in Area 10 were
simultaneous detonations of multiple devices in the same emplacement hole, while
others involved the firing of multiple devices, but with each of the nuclear
devices located in separate emplacement holes.
Area 10 is the site of Sedan Crater, which was formed by a thermonuclear
device detonated in July 1962. It left a large throw-out crater with a diameter
of 390 m (1,280 ft) and a depth of 98 m (320 ft). Sedan was the first in a
series of 23 Plowshare experiments conducted at the NTS to develop peaceful uses
of nuclear explosives. Sedan Crater is listed on the National Register of
Historic Places, a file of cultural resources of national, state, regional, or
local significance
identified by the National Park
Service. The Scooter Crater, also located in Area 10, is the result of a
500-ton conventional high-explosive experiment carried out in 1960.
Area 11This area,
which is split among
the Nuclear Test and Reserved Zones, occupies 67 km
2 (26 mi
2)
along the eastern border of the NTS. Four atmospheric plutonium-dispersal
safety tests were conducted in the northern portion of Area 11 in
1954 and 1956 in what is now known as Plutonium
Valley. Because of the radioactive residues that remain from the safety
experiments, Area 11 continues to be used on an intermittent basis for realistic
drills in radiological monitoring and sampling operations. In addition to the
aboveground safety tests, five underground nuclear weapons effects tests were
carried out in Area 11 between the spring of 1966 and early 1971.
An explosive ordnance disposal site is located in the southern portion of
Area 11. This is a Resource Conservation and Recovery Act permitted treatment
unit. The site consists of a detonation pit surrounded by an earthen pad,
approximately 8 m (25 ft) by
30 m (100 ft), and
supplemental equipment, which includes a bunker, electrical shot box, and
electrical wire. Typically, up to six detonations of 45 kilograms (kg) (100
pounds [lb]) or less of explosives are conducted annually.
Area 12This area, within the Nuclear or High Explosive Test
Zone, occupies 104 km
2 (40 mi
2) at the northern boundary
of the NTS known as Rainier Mesa. No atmospheric tests were conducted at this
location. Rainier Mesa was the site of the nation's first fully contained
underground nuclear detonation in the fall of 1957. Of the 61 underground
nuclear tests carried out in Area 12 between late 1957 and the fall of 1992,
only 2 were detonated in drilled holes, whereas all of the others were detonated
in mined tunnels.
Today, there are a number of tunnels mined into Rainier Mesa, within which
most DoD horizontal line-of-sight exposure experiments were conducted. In
particular, N-, P-, and T-Tunnel complexes were extensively developed during
the past several decades. N-Tunnel was also the location for a
non-proliferation experiment, detonated in September 1993; this experiment
involved 1.3 x 10
6 kg (2.9 x 10
6 lb) of conventional
high explosives. The DoD currently operates a high-explosives research and
development tunnel in Area 12. This reusable test bed supports
programsinvolving the detonation of conventional or prototype explosives and
munitions.
The Area 12 camp was used to support operations in the northern region of
the NTS. The camp includes housing and feeding facilities; other support
structures include a major maintenance building, various craft and repair shops,
a first-aid facility, and a supply depot. The camp is currently closed.
Area 13Officially, there is no Area 13 within the NTS
boundary; however, there is a land plot on the NAFR Complex, known as NAFR
Complex Area 13, which lies off the northeast corner of the NTS. This was the
location for a plutonium-dispersal safety experiment conducted in early 1957.
The only future DOE activities that
would occur in
this area would involve environmental restoration.
Area 14This Reserved Zone area occupies 67 km
2 (26
mi
2) in the south-central portion of the NTS. Relatively isolated
from the NTS's major operational and support facilities, no atmospheric or
underground nuclear tests have ever been conducted in Area 14.
Area 15This Reserved Zone area occupies 96 km
2 (37
mi
2) at the northeast corner of the NTS, and no atmospheric tests
were conducted at this location. However, between early 1962 to mid-1966, three
underground nuclear tests were carried out in Area 15.
Two major complexes are located in Area 15, the Hardhat/Piledriver site and
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Farm Complex, both of which are
now closed. The Piledriver experiment in mid-1966 was one of the most complex
and expensive DoD underground nuclear tests ever carried out. The purpose of
these tests was to investigate the simulated effects of a nuclear surface
detonation on a deeply buried, superhard command and control center in a granite
rock formation.
From 1978 to 1983, the Spent Fuel Test, Climax was carried out in a
separately mined drift at the Hardhat/Piledriver site. The purpose of this
studywas to learn more about how granite would react to heat and radiation from
spent nuclear fuel.
As part of the nation's long-range health and safety program, an
experimental 30-acre dairy farm was developed and operated in Area 15 between
1965 and 1981. The purpose of this extensive research program was to study the
passage of airborne radionuclides through the soil-forage-cow-milk-food chain.
Area 16This area, within the Nuclear or High Explosive Test
Zone, occupies 7
3 km
2 (28 mi
2)
in the west-central portion of the NTS. No atmospheric tests have ever been
conducted at this location. Area 16 was established in 1961 for the DoD's
exclusive use in support of a complicated nuclear effects experiment that
required a tunnel location in an isolated area away from other active weapons
test areas. From mid-1962 through mid-1971, six underground nuclear weapons
effects tests (all in the same tunnel complex) were conducted at this location.
Currently, the DoD uses this area for high-explosives research and development
in support of programs involving the detonation of conventional or prototype
explosives and munitions.
Area 17This area, within the Reserved Zone, occupies 80 km
2
(31 mi
2) in the north-central portion of the NTS. This area has
been used primarily as a buffer between other testing activities. No
atmospheric tests or experimental activities of programmatic consequence have
been conducted in Area 17.
Area 18This area, within the Reserved Zone, occupies 231 km
2
(89 mi
2) in the northwest quadrant of the NTS. The inactive Pahute
airstrip is located in the east-central portion of the area. When in operational
status, the airstrip was primarily used for shipment of supplies and equipment
for Pahute Mesa test operations.
Area 18 was the site of
five nuclear weapons
tests:
four were conducted in mid-1962
and one underground test was conducted in 1964.
Two of these were atmospheric tests, two were cratering experiments, and one
was
a stemmed underground nuclear test. In 1964,
the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory used the area for a
Plowshare-sponsored test using chemical high explosives to investigate the
potential use of nuclear explosives for ditch digging in dense hard rock.
Area 19This area, within the Nuclear Test Zone, occupies 388
km
2 (150 mi
2) in the northwest corner of the NTS. Area
19 was developed for high-yield underground nuclear tests. No atmospheric
nuclear tests were conducted in Area 19. From the mid-1960s through 1992, a
total of 35 underground nuclear tests were conducted.
There are five stockpile
stewardship emplacement
holes in Area 19 (Appendix A, Figure A-1
).
Area 20This area, within the Nuclear Test Zone, occupies 259
km
2 (100 mi
2) and is in the extreme northwest corner of
the NTS. Area 20, like Area 19, was developed in the mid-1960s as a suitable
location for high-yield underground nuclear tests. No atmospheric nuclear tests
were conducted in Area 20. Three underground nuclear tests in the megaton and
greater yield range were carried out on Pahute Mesa between 1966 and 1976.
These tests were the well-publicized Boxcar, Benham, and Handley events. From
the mid-1960s through 1992,
a total of 46
contained, underground nuclear tests were conducted in Area 20. All of these
Pahute Mesa tests have consisted of single nuclear devices being detonated in
drilled emplacement holes.
In addition to weapons development tests, one nuclear test detection
experiment and three Plowshare tests were conducted on Pahute Mesa. The
Plowshare tests in Area 20 included the nuclear cratering experiments Palanquin,
Cabriolet, and Schooner. Palanquin, detonated in the spring of 1965, was the
first nuclear test on Pahute Mesa.
There are two stockpile stewardship emplacement holes in Area 20 (Appendix
A,
Figure A-1
).
Area 21There is no Area 21 on the NTS.
Area 22This area, within the Reserved Zone, occupies 83 km
2
(32 mi
2) in the southeastern corner of the NTS and serves as the
main entrance area. Before 1958, this area included Camp Desert Rock, a Sixth
Army installation used for housing troopstaking part in military exercises at
the NTS. After 1958, the camp was essentially removed, with the exception of
the Desert Rock Airport. In 1969, the runway was extended to a length of 2,286
m (7,500 ft). The airport currently is open, but provides no services.
Area 23This area, within the Reserved Zone, occupies 13 km
2
(5 mi
2) in the southeastern portion of the NTS and is the location
of the largest operational support complex. Mercury was established in 1951 and
serves as the main administrative and industrial support center at the NTS.
Permanent structures and services include housing and feeding, laboratory,
maintenance, communication and support facilities, computer facilities,
warehouses, storage yards, motor pools, and administrative offices. Mercury is
located approximately 8 km (5 mi) from U.S. Highway 95.
The Area 23 Class II sanitary landfill, located just west of Mercury, is
open to receive all types of nonhazardous solid waste. Wastes are compacted and
covered to form layers. The Area 23 landfill receives approximately 830 tons of
solid waste annually. The landfill is an open, rectangular pit with steep,
nearly vertical sides. The current capacity of the landfill is approximately
4.5 x 105 cubic meters (m
3)
(5.9 x 105 cubic yards [yd³]).
Area 24There is no Area 24 on the NTS. However, Las Vegas and
North Las Vegas are sometimes referred to as Area 24.
Area 25This is the largest area on the NTS. It occupies some
578 km
2 (223 mi
2) in the southwestern corner of the site
and includes an entrance gate to the NTS.
Located roughly in the center of Area 25, Jackass Flats was the site
selected for a series of ground tests of reactors, engines, and rocket stages as
part of a program to develop nuclear reactors for use in the nation's space
program. In the early 1960s, the Atomic Energy Commission and the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration negotiated an interagency agreement to
establish and manage a test area at the NTS, designated as the Nuclear Rocket
Development Station. Thesefacilities, inactive since 1973, remain today in
various stages of disrepair. They consist of three widely separated reactor
test stands; two maintenance, assembly, and disassembly facility buildings; a
Control Point complex; an administrative area complex; and a radioactive
materials storage area.
Area 25
is divided into multiple zone
categories: Yucca Mountain Site Characterization Zone; Research, Test, and
Experiment Zone; and Reserved Zone. The Yucca Mountain Site Characterization
Zone within the boundaries of the NTS represents a land assignment area for site
characterization activities. The former Nuclear Rocket Development Station
administrative area complex in Area 25 has been rededicated as the Yucca
Mountain Site Characterization Central Support Site. Limited Yucca Mountain
characterization activities are also conducted off site and beyond Area 25.
Similarly, the NTS has monitoring activities off site. The Research, Test, and
Experiment Zone in Area 25 is used by the U.S. Army's Ballistic Research
Laboratory for depleted uranium testing. Two classifications of tests are
conducted under this program, open-air tests and X-tunnel tests. These tests
include hazard classification and system tests. Research sites within the
Reserved Zone include the Treatability Test Facility and Bare Reactor Experiment
Nevada (BREN) Tower. The Treatability Test Facility was established in Area 25
for bench-scale testing of physical processes for separating plutonium and
uranium from contaminated soils.
Area 25 was used in the early 1980s for MX (Peacekeeper) missile siting
studies and canister ejection certification tests.
The 465-m (1,527-ft) BREN Tower has been used intermittently by a number of
organizations to conduct sonic-boom research, meteorological studies, and
free-fall/gravity-drop tests. More recently, the facility has been used in
support of the Brilliant Pebbles program, as well as in studies to develop the
technology and measurement techniques for advanced infrared imaging from space
satellites. A Brilliant Pebble is a relatively small computer-operated,
rocket-powered vehicle that uses sensors and a small laser to detect andtrack an
oncoming ballistic missile, which the Brilliant Pebble vehicle is designed to
destroy by kinetic energy.
The Rock Valley Study Area, not shown on the map, is located south of
Jackass Flats Road on the southern boundary of Area 25. This location was
selected in 1960 for controlled studies relating to the effects of radiation on
a desert ecosystem. During the past three decades, these fenced study plots have
been used by a number of government-sponsored scientists, as well as students
and others conducting environmental research projects and experiments.
Portions of the Area 25 Reserved Zone are used by the military for land
navigation and training exercises.
Area 26This area, within the Reserved Zone, occupies 5
7 km
2 (22 mi
2) in the
south-central area of the NTS. The southern portions of this area were used in
the past for nuclear-powered ramjet engine tests known as Project Pluto. The
residual test facilities include a control point, test bunker, compressor house
and air-storage facilities, and a disassembly building.
Area 27This area, within the Critical Assembly Zone, occupies
130 km
2 (50 mi
2) in the south-central portion of the
NTS. Area 27's principal assembly facilities include five assembly bays, four
storage magazines, two combination assembly bay/storage magazines, and three
radiography buildings. The Area 27's critical assembly facilities are an
alternate to the Device Assembly Facility.
Area 27 was also used in the past for the Super Kukla
Reactor Facility.
Area 28No longer in existence, the Area 28 designation
formerly applied to a portion of the NTS that has since been absorbed into Areas
25 and 27.
Area 29This area, within the Reserved Zone, occupies 161 km
2
(62 mi
2) on the west-central border of the NTS. The site of a
communications repeater station for the NTS
is located in
the Shoshone Mountains.
Area 30This area, within the Reserved Zone, occupies 150 km
2
(58 mi
2) and, like Area 29, is on the western edge of the NTS. Area
30 also has fairly rugged terrain and includes the northern reaches of
Fortymile Canyon. In the past, Area 30 has had
limited use in support of the nation's nuclear testing programs, but in the
spring of 1968 it was the site of Project Buggy, the first nuclear row-charge
experiment in the Plowshare Program.
SURROUNDING LAND USEFigure 4-4
shows the status and use of lands around the NTS. The NTS is surrounded by
other federal lands. The NTS is bordered by the NAFR Complex on the north,
east, and west and by U.S. Bureau of Land Management lands on the south and
southwest.
Beyond the federal lands that surround the NTS, principal land uses in Nye
County in the vicinity of the NTS include mining, grazing, agriculture, and
recreation. Currently, Nye County does not have a land-zoning ordinance;
however, measures are being reviewed by the Board of Supervisors for approval.
Of the total land area within Nye County, only a small number of isolated areas
are under private ownership and, therefore, subject to general planning
guidelines. Urban and residential land uses occur beyond the immediate vicinity
of the NTS, in fertile valley regions such as the Owens and San Joaquin to the
west, the Virgin River to the east, Pahrump to the south, the Moapa River to the
southeast, and Hike and Alamo to the northeast. The nearest population centers
surrounding the NTS are Amargosa Valley, Indian Springs, Beatty, and Pahrump
Valley. These are all rural communities, with Amargosa Valley being the closest
to the NTS. Las Vegas is the closest major metropolitan area and is located
about 105 km (65 mi) southeast of the NTS. Amargosa Valley (formerly Lathrop
Wells) lies 3 km (2 mi) south of the NTS border.
Figure 4-4. NTS and surrounding land use
Clark County, to the southeast, consists of 20,
461
km² (7,900 mi²), of which about 95 percent is owned by the federal
government. The primary land uses of these federal lands include open grazing,
mining, and recreation. The remaining 5 percent of the land in Clark County is
used for state and local government, residential, industrial, and commercial
purposes. Numerous national, state, and local public recreation areas exist
within the region. Outdoor recreational areas include the Lake Mead National
Recreation Area, located 1
21 km (75 mi) east; the
Death Valley National Monument, located 19 km (12 mi) to the west-southwest; the
Red Rock National Conservation Area, located 64 km (40 mi) to the southwest; and
the Desert National Wildlife Range, located
5 km
(3 mi) east. Portions of the Desert National Wildlife Range overlap the NAFR
Complex and come within 3 km (2 mi) of the boundary of the NTS. State parks
include Spring Mountain Ranch State Park, located 80 km (50 mi) southwest, and
the Floyd R. Lamb State Park, located 72 km (45 mi) southwest. Other
recreational areas include year-round campsites and picnic areas in the Toiyabe
National Forest, located 40 km (25 mi) to the southwest. In addition, numerous
camping and fishing sites that are used during the spring, summer, and fall
months are located in the outlying areas north of the site.
The North Las Vegas Facility occupies approximately
80 acres in the city of North Las Vegas, Nevada. The North Las Vegas Facility
is zoned for general industrial use and is bordered on the north, south, and
east by general industrial zoning. The western border of the site is adjacent
to a street, which acts as a buffer zone, separating the site from
fully-developed, single family, residential-zoned property.
The North Las Vegas Facility is divided into three distinct areas. The
first area covers 20 acres and houses support for the Lawrence Livermore
National Laboratory test program. The second area covers 20 acres and houses
support for the Los Alamos National Laboratory test program. The third area
covers 38.3 acres and houses a computer center and administrative and
engineering support functions.
.
The following sections provide a brief discussion of the current NTS
site-support services (infrastructure). Additional details regarding site
support are provided in
Section A.6
of Appendix A.
FACILITIESThe NTS contains approximately 1,500 buildings that
provide approximately269,419 m
2 (2.9 x 10
6 ft
2)
of space. A breakdown of the types of facilities and their cumulative space is
given in
Table 4-2
. Many of these facilities have been
either mothballed or abandoned because of the reduction of program activities at
the NTS.
SERVICESServices available at the NTS include law enforcement
and security, fire protection, and health care.
Law Enforcement and SecurityLaw enforcement on the NTS is
provided by the Nye County Sheriff's Department through a substation located at
Mercury. Security enforcement is the responsibility of Wackenhut Services, Inc.
The NTS is a controlled-access area. Wackenhut Services, Inc., a private
contractor, provides sitewide protective services following guidelines
established by the DOE/NV Safeguards and Security Division.
The DOE currently contracts with the Nye County Sheriff's Department for
five officers at the NTS substation to assist in civilian law enforcement. There
is no holding facility at the NTS; most people arrested at the NTS are
transported to Pahrump. If the individual cannot pay bail, he is sent to
Tonopah, Nevada (Willen, 1995).
Security facilities at the main gate include a badging and security office.
Other facilities include firing ranges, an ammunition dump, a security training
facility, and an obstacle course. Mobile ground patrols provide security
throughout the site. Helicopters and light aircraft are used to check perimeter
barricades and other remote locations in the forward area. Teams of armed
guards are available to respond to emergency situations and to escort the
movement of nuclear explosives and special nuclear materials within the NTS.
Response teams are equipped with all-terrain, high-speed armored vehicles (
Raytheon Services Nevada, 1994b).
Fire ProtectionThe fire protection capacity of the NTS is
structured to accommodate current mission requirements, with a self-contained
fire-fighting department responsible for suppression and prevention. Other
services include rescue, hazardous material response, training of fire
personnel, fire prevention inspection, installation of all fire extinguishers at
the NTS, and fire prevention awareness programs (Raytheon Services Nevada,
1994).
Table 4-2. Building space on the NTS
|
Functional Unit |
Square Meters |
Square Feet |
| Administrative |
72,081 |
775,874 |
| Temporary Housing |
22,499 |
242,178 |
| Storage |
68,886 |
741,483 |
| Services |
62,667 |
674,539 |
| Research and Development |
38,215 |
411,338 |
| Reactor and Accelerator |
305 |
3,286 |
| Other Known Assets |
101 |
1,088 |
| Other Storage |
3,713 |
39,971 |
| Industrial/Production Process |
3,290 |
35,418 |
| Service Structures |
205 |
2,208 |
| Communication and Related Systems |
797 |
8,575 |
| Distribution Systems |
36 |
390 |
A fire department staffed with support-contractor personnel provides 24-hour
fire-fighting services for the NTS. In addition, fire protection and crash
rescue services are provided for two airstrips
, upon
request. Within site boundaries, the fire department provides support
during the transportation, transfer, and storage of toxic and flammable gases.
The fire department maintains
one fire
station in Mercury. Support equipment used by the fire
department include one engine company, one tanker truck, and one UNMOG used for
wildlands support (Raytheon Services Nevada, 1994).
Health CareAn eight-bed dispensary in Mercury serves as a
clinic for the NTS. Facilities include rooms for emergency care, examination
and treatment, X-ray, and associated darkroom equipment, as well as offices and
storage. The facility can respond rapidly to normal and emergency situations,
including in-patient treatment, emergency surgery, and radiation accidents.
First-aid stations are located near field activities so that personnel can
betreated quickly. Ambulances are available for emergencies that occur on the
site, in nearby communities, or on highways (
Raytheon
Services Nevada, 1994).
UTILITIESThe utilities at the NTS include water systems,
wastewater systems, and electrical systems.
Water SystemsThe NTS is presently served by a water system
consisting of
11 operating wells
for potable water, one well for non-potable water (
Table 4-3)
, 27 usable storage tanks, 13 usable construction
water sumps, and 6 water transmission systems (with 5 permitted water
distribution systems). The wells are not being used to their full capacity and
are capable of producing much more water if needed. Additional inactive wells
are available (
Table 4-4)
or wells may be drilled and
developed if increased water production is required. Wells, sumps, and storage
tanks are used, as required, to support construction or operational activities.
Five water storage tanks are currently under construction at the NTS. Domestic,
construction, and fire protection water are supplied by this system through over
161 km (100 mi) of supply line. Potable water is trucked to support facilities
that are not connected to the potable water system. The NTS used approximately
1.7 billion liters (L) (457 million gallons [gal]) of water in 1994. Mercury was
the primary user of this water, using 40 percent of the total water pumped. The
forward areas of the NTS used approximately
7.0 x 108
L (1.9 x 10
8 gal).
Table 4-3. Active water supply wells on the NTS
|
Well* |
Water Service Areas |
Area Served |
Type |
Status |
Sumps & Reservoirs Storage Capacity |
Flow Rate
|
| L |
gal |
L/min |
gal/min |
| U-20a |
A |
19, 20 |
Nonpotable |
Active |
154,400,000 |
40,780,000 |
1,060 |
280 |
| 8 |
B |
2, 12 |
Potable |
Active |
2,100,000 |
553,000 |
2,045 |
540 |
| UE-16d |
B |
1 |
Potable |
Active |
None |
None |
735 |
194 |
| C |
C |
6, 3 |
Potable |
Active |
4,880,000 |
1,290,000 |
1,100 |
290 |
| C-1 |
C |
6, 3 |
Potable |
Active |
See Well C |
See Well C |
1,100 |
290 |
| 4 and 4a |
C |
6 |
Potable |
Active |
See Well C |
See Well C |
2,651 |
700 |
| 5b |
C |
5, 22, 23 |
Potable |
Active |
2,700,000 |
710,000 |
871 |
230 |
| 5c |
C |
5, 22, 23 |
Potable |
Active |
190,000 |
50,000 |
871 |
230 |
| J-12 |
D |
25 |
Potable |
Active |
13,510,000 |
3,555,000 |
2,878 |
760 |
| J-13 |
D |
25 |
Potable |
Active |
190,000 |
50,000 |
2,574 |
680 |
| Army Well 1 |
C |
22, 23 |
Potable |
Active |
None |
None |
371 |
98 |
| * The locations of these wells are shown on
Figure 4-5
. |
Table 4-4. Inactive water supply wells on the NTS
|
Wella |
Water Service Areas |
Area Served |
Type |
Status |
Sumps & Reservoirs Storage Capacity |
Flow Rate |
| L |
gal |
L/min |
gal/min |
| UE-19c |
A |
19, 20 |
Nonpotable |
Inactive |
13,984,000 |
2,900,000 |
1,363 |
360 |
| UE-15d |
B |
15 |
Nonpotable |
Inactive |
56,781 |
15,000 |
1,022 |
270 |
|
2 |
B |
2, 4, 7, 9, 10 |
Potable (chlorinator) |
Inactive
(pump failed) |
3,293,308 |
870,000 |
643 |
170 |
| UE-1r |
B |
1 |
Nonpotable |
Inactive |
None |
None |
1,022 |
270 |
|
UE-5c |
C |
5 |
Nonpotable |
Active for environmental sampling only |
None |
None |
1,325 |
350 |
| 5a |
C |
5 |
Potable |
Abandoned |
None |
None |
341 |
90 |
| F |
C |
27 |
Nonpotable |
Inactive |
None |
None |
901 |
238 |
| 3 |
C |
3 |
Nonpotable |
Inactive |
None |
None |
None |
None |
| J-11 |
D |
25 |
Potable |
Abandoned |
See Well J-12b |
See Well J-12b |
None |
None |
| a The locations of these wells are
shown on Figure 4-5
.
b Table 4-3.
|
For evaluation purposes, the NTS water system has been divided into four
water service areas (A, B, C, and D) according to the location of the water
system and support facilities (
Figure 4-5
).
Water service area A includes NTS Areas 19 and 20; service area B covers Areas
2, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 15, 17, and 18; service area C supplies Areas 1, 3, 5, 6,
11, 22, 23, 26, and 27; and service area D supplies water to the remaining areas
of the NTS.
Non-potable water distribution in water service area A is through an
aboveground 152 millimeter (mm) (
6-inch [in.])
pipe line that runs along the Pahute Mesa
Road between
Well UE-19c, the Area 20 camp, and Well U-20a. Water in this system must
maintain a constant flow to prevent freezing in the extreme temperatures.
Water service area B has two
potable water distribution
systems to serve water needs in this area. The Area 17 support facilities are
supplied by the system from Well
UE-16d. The
other transmission system in this area feeds from Well 8 to the Area 12 camp
through
152-mm (6-in.) pipe line and 102-mm
(4-in.) pipe line and then into the Area 2 facilities through 152-mm (6-in.)
pipe line connecting to Well 2.
The two distribution systems in water service area C feed several wells and
use 203-mm (8-in.), 102-m (4-in.), and 152-mm (6-in.) underground pipelines. The
Area 6 distribution system is supplied by Wells 4, C, C1, and 4a, and provides
potable water service to the Device Assembly
Facility, the Yucca Lake facilities, the Control Point, and the Well 3 yard.
This system contains
segments of old asbestos
pipe. Area 5, Mercury, and Desert Rock facilities are supplied by a system
connecting Wells 5b, 5c, and Army Well 1.
Wells J-12 and J-13 supply
potable water to
the single transmission system in water service area D. This system (in NTS Area
25) supplies severalreservoirs and the former Nuclear Rocket Development Station
facilities through 152 mm (6-in.), 203-mm (8-in.), and
304-mm
(12-in.) pipe lines.
Wastewater SystemsWastewater on the NTS is disposed of either
by a combination septic tank and leach field system or by a lagoon system. At
areas not serviced by a permanent wastewater system, portable sanitary units are
provided. The size and type of wastewater systems used are determined by
anticipated discharge and cost effectiveness.
Electrical SystemElectric power is delivered to the NTS at the
Mercury switching center in Area 22 by a primary 138-kilovolt (kV) supply line
from the Nevada Power Company system near Las Vegas. A second Nevada Power
Company-owned 138-kV line connects the Mercury switching center to the Jackass
Flats substation in Area 25. Valley Electric Cooperative, serving the Pahrump,
Nevada area also has a transmission connection to the Jackass Flats substation.
The dual transmission and station connections provide the NTS with the ability
to receive service from either transmission source depending on contractual
arrangements. A DOE-owned 138-kV loop extends this primary power supply into
the NTS forward areas where smaller, lower-voltage distribution lines feed power
to individual facilities. During the last several years, the NTS has been
provided power under contracts with Nevada Power Company and the Western Area
Power Administration. Additionally, the DOE has periodically operated oil-fired
diesel generators at Area 25 for peak and back-up power supply purposes
(Raytheon Services Nevada, 1994).
Electric power on the NTS is carried over 426 km (265 mi) of transmission
and subtransmission lines (Raytheon Services Nevada, 1994). The power
subtransmission uses an extensive 34.5-kV system and two small 69-kV systems.
These systems provide distribution voltages of 4.16 kV and 12.47 kV at various
substations. Distribution voltages are transformed to both 480/277-volt and
208/120-volt three-phase systems for most NTS loads, with a few single-phase
120-volt services.
Figure 4-5. Existing water service areas and supply wells on the
NTS
Power transmission/subtransmission lines and substations located on the NTS
are shown on
Figure 4-6
.
COMMUNICATIONSCommunication systems cover not only the entire
area of the NTS, but also reach far beyond its boundaries. The NTS
telecommunications system employs digital telephone switching, fiber-optic
transmission, microwave, two-way radio, voice privacy, data transmission
systems, general- and special-purpose data communications, and teleconferencing
services (secure as necessary).
Communications support also includes automated data processing equipment,
automated office support systems, and information systems. Computer systems
encompass general purpose, stand alone, data management, word processing,
engineering, computer-aided drafting, and computer-aided manufacturing.
Airspace must be managed and used in a manner that best serves the competing needs of
commercial, general, and military aviation interests. The Federal Aviation
Administration is responsible for the overall management of airspace and has
established different airspace designations that are designed to protect
aircraft during flights to or from an airport, transiting between airports, or
operating within "special use" areas identified for defense-related
purposes. Rules of flight and air traffic control procedures have been
established to govern how aircraft must operate within each type of designated
airspace. All aircraft operate under either instrument flight rules or visual
flight rules.
The type and dimension of individual airspace areas established within a
given region and their spatial and procedural relationship to one another are
contingent upon the different aviation activities conducted in that region.
When any significant change
in airspace use is
planned for a region, the Federal Aviation Administration will reassess the
airspace configuration to determine if such changes will adversely affect (1)
air traffic control systems and/or facilities, (2) movement of other air
traffic in the area, or (3) airspace already designated and used for other
purposes (i.e., military operating areas or restricted areas).
Approximately 16,000 sortieswere flown on the Tonopah
Test Range by the DOE in Fiscal Year 1994. These sorties included employee
transportation and activities associated with Defense and Work for Others
Programs.
Airspace associated with the NTS and vicinity is shown on
Figure 4-7
. The NTS airspace is part of the
NAFR Complex, which includes 4 restricted areas, the desert military operating
areas/air traffic control assigned airspace, 2 low-altitude tactical navigation
areas, 29 military training routes, and 3 air refueling routes.
Greater detail of the airspace configuration is shown on
Figure 4-8
. Restricted area
R-4808 is the airspace over the NTS. Airspace
control over portions of the restricted areas and all desert military operating
areas has been delegated to the Nellis Air Traffic Control Facility by the
Federal Aviation Administration Air Route Traffic Control centers serving the
surrounding airspace. The Nellis Air Traffic Control Facility controls the
entry and exit of military aircraft in this airspace, while the Range Control
Center monitors mission activities within this airspace. Because activities in
restricted areas can be hazardous, nonparticipating aircraft are restricted from
this airspace except when released by the controlling agency for joint use. The
Nellis Air Traffic Control Facility may release and authorize use of R-4806 and
R-4807 for nonparticipating aircraft when
these areas are
not required for defense-related activities. Restricted areas R-4808 and
R-4809 are managed by the DOE and are never authorized for use by civilian
aircraft.
The desert military operating areas comprise the eastern half and northern
portion of the airspace associated with the NAFR Complex. The training
conducted within the desert military operating areas consists of high-speed
operations, including abrupt aircraft maneuvers and supersonic flight at or
above 1,524 m (5,000 ft) above ground level. Within the military operating
areas, military aircraft are exempted from the provisions of Federal Aviation
Regulation 91.71, which normally restrict abrupt aircraft maneuvers or
aerobatics within federal airways and control zones. The desert military
operating areas are active during daylight hours Monday through Saturday and at
other times by
authorization.
Figure 4-6. NTS sitewide power distribution
Figure 4-7. NTS and vicinity airspace
Figure 4-8. Detailed configuration of the NTS and vicinity airspace
Even though military aircraft are scheduled for flight activity within the
military operating areas, civilian aircraft flying under visual flight rules can
fly through the area. In addition, both military and civilian aircraft
operating under instrument flight rules may be cleared through the military
operating areas by Nellis Air Traffic Control Facility if in-flight separation
can be provided.
The low-altitude tactical navigation areas are unrestricted airspace used
intermittently by the military. These areas allow A-10 aircraft to practice
random tactical navigation and formations between
30 m
(100 ft) and
457 m (1,500 ft) above ground level
at airspeeds at or below 250 knots
(288 mi/hr).
These areas are normally used when no airspace is available for this type of
training within the NAFR Complex.
The military training routes and air refueling routes are located within or
at the boundaries of airspace associated with the NAFR Complex. Several of
these military training routes overlap or are reversals of each other.
Generally, military training routes are established below
3,048 m (10,000 ft) mean sea level for operations at speeds in excess of
250 knots
(288 mi/hr). However, some military
training route segments may be at higher altitudes because of terrain or climb
and descent requirements. There are instrument-flight-rule military training
routes and visual-flight-rule military training routes. The normal width of an
instrument-flight-rule military training route from the centerline is 8 km (5
mi) and 8 to 16 km (5 to 10 mi) for visual-flight-rule military training routes,
although some segments of these routes may be as narrow as 3 km (2 mi) and as
wide as 32 km (20 mi).
Figure 4-9
shows the
complexity of military training routes.
There are several other types of designated airspace around the NAFR
Complex/Las Vegas area. The following are brief descriptions of these types:
- Indian SpringsAir Force Auxiliary Airfield
Class D airspace encompasses a
8 km (5-statute mile) radius around the airfield
from the surface to 914 m (3,000 ft) aboveground
level within which aircraft are provided air traffic controlservice by the
Indian Springs tower. The tower can advise civilian aircraft of military
operations occurring at Indian Springs
- Desert Rock Airport is a controlled, but unmanned, airfield operated by the
DOE, located southwest of Mercury along U.S.
Highway 95 (Figure 4-8
).
Only periodic flights involving general-aviation
single-engine to multi-engine jet aircraft occur at this airport
- Las Vegas Class B airspace encompasses Nellis
Air Force Base and McCarran International Airport. All
aircraft operating within the Class B airspace
must be in contact with an air traffic control facility. In the northern
portion of the Class B airspace, air traffic control is provided by the Nellis
Approach Control. The southern portion is controlled by the Las Vegas
Approach Control
- Alert Area 481 is a designated airspace extending from Nellis Air Force
Base westward to advise civilian aviation of high-density military operation
transiting between the base and the NAFR Complex. The alert area begins at
2,134 m (7,000 ft) mean sea level and extends to a ceiling of
5,791 m (19,000 ft) mean sea level.
The Nevada Airport System Plan (NDOT,
1995)
indicates that in
1994 there were
824,570 civilian aircraft operations in Nevada.
In
1994, there were
2,031
general aviation aircraft based at airports in Nevada, the locations of which
are indicated in
Figure 4-10.
Because of airspace restrictions associated with the
NTS/NAFR Complex, commercial and general aviation aircraft must normally use
routes of flight that
remain clear of this range
complex. With respect to commercial aviation (certificated air carrier
operations), flight is generally conducted along an en route "highway"
system defined by ground- or space-based radio navigational aids. In the
NTS/NAFR Complex area, the federal airways (low
altitude) (
Figure 4-11
) and jet route (high
altitude) systems circumvent airspace used for defense-related purposes in a
direct manner, or vertical separation is provided between military aircraft and
the en route commercial traffic on these systems
(Figure 4-12
).
Figure 4-9. Military training routes in Nevada
Figure 4-10. Commercial, general, and private aviation airports and
airfields in Nevada
Figure 4-11. Federal low-altitude airways in southern Nevada
General aviation includes business or corporate air transportation and
private, recreational, or training activities. General aviation aircraft
operate within the framework of the
en route
airway system, as well as within the uncontrolled airspace outside the
structured airway and terminal airspace.
Recreational
flying occurs on weekends when airspace is not normally used for defense-related
training. However, occasional diversions around defense-related airspace that
increase flying distance and fuel consumption may occur.
.
Waste Management Program
activities include disposal,
storage, treatment, closure operations and the activities of the Waste
Minimization/Pollution Prevention Program. Each waste and
operation type is discussed in this section; the waste
Minimization/Pollution Prevention Program is discussed in Appendix C,
Section C.6
, and is summarized at the end of this
section.
Wastes, such as nonhazardous, nonradioactive
sanitary, and industrial wastes from the NTS programs are disposed of in
several industrial landfills, sewage treatment systems,
and septic tank systems located at the NTS. Five types of wastes are managed at
the NTS: low-level waste, mixed wastes (transuranic and low-level), hazardous
wastes, Toxic Substances Control Act wastes, and nonhazardous solid wastes.
The following sections summarize existing waste management operations by
type: disposal, storage, treatment, and closure. Within the discussion of each
type of operation, the different waste types managed and the locations of the
facilities are identified. All of these wastes are managed in three types of
management facilities: treatment facilities, storage facilities, and disposal
facilities (
Figure 4-13
).
DISPOSAL OPERATIONSIn 1961, the Area 5 Radioactive Waste
Management Site was established for the disposal of low-level waste from both
on-site and off-site DOE generators. The developed area or unit within the Area
5 Radioactive Waste Management Site consists of17 landfill cells (pits and
trenches) and 13 greater confinement disposal boreholes. The operational mixed
waste and low-level waste disposal cells within the Area 5 Radioactive Waste
Management Site include the following:
- Pits for the disposal of on-site generated mixed waste and low-level waste
- Trenches for the disposal of low-level waste.
Approximately 500,000 Curies (Ci) of low-level waste
have been disposed of in Area 5 pits and trenches.
High-specific-activity wastes have been disposed of in greater confinement
disposal units. Approximately 9.3 x 10
6 Ci of high-specific-activity
waste, primarily tritium, have been disposed of in greater confinement disposal
units in Area 5.
Historically (since the mid-1960s), the Area 3 Radioactive Waste Management
Site was used primarily for the disposal of contaminated waste generated from
the NTS Atmospheric Testing Debris Disposal Program, which involved the cleanup
of atmospheric testing sites. Total volume of waste disposed of in Area 3 as of
September 1994
was 3.0
x 105 m
3 (1.1 x 10
3
ft
3) and consists of tower assemblies, metal cable, miscellaneous
metal scrap, and soil from the blading (scraping) of the first few inches of the
site to remove the surficial radioactive contamination.
Approximately half of the radioactive waste disposed of in the Areas 3 and 5
Radioactive Waste Management Sites is atmospheric testing debris generated
during the cleanup of the NTS aboveground nuclear detonation areas. The
remainder of the waste was received from other DOE and defense-related
facilities conducting environmental restoration activities, research and
development projects, and nuclear weapons production. This waste was generally
in the form of soil, construction rubble, compactible trash, glass, plastics,
filters, and process residues. Today, Area 3 is used for the disposal of bulk
and packaged low-level waste from on-site and off-site DOE generators.
Figure 4-12. High-altitude jet routes in southern
Nevada
Figure 4-13. Existing treatment, storage, and disposal facilities on the
NTS
Current waste management disposal cells at the Area 3 Radioactive Waste
Management Site are comprised of four subsidence craters (U-3ax, U-3bl, U-3ah,
and U-3at), with areas between craters excavated to make two oval-shaped
landfill cells. Conventional landfill methods are used to dispose of waste in
each cell; each layer of waste is covered with 1 m (3 ft) of fill before
additional waste materials are disposed. The U-3ax/bl disposal cell contains
mixed waste and low-level waste. It is inactive,
temporarily covered, and awaiting closure. The U-3ah/at
cell
is currently being used for low-level waste disposal; mixed waste is not
accepted. To date, approximately 1,250 Ci have been disposed of in the Area 3
subsidence craters. Three additional subsidence craters are reserved for
low-level waste cells: U-3bh, U-3bg, and U-3az.
Several factors were considered in selecting subsidence craters for the
disposal of waste. The degree of bulking, sometimes called compaction, that
occurs during the collapse of the rubble chimney is an important consideration.
Subsidence crater and cavity volumes were compared to establish the changes in
the bulk density of the collapsed material. This was done to ensure that the
resulting bulk density of the chimney rubble is equal to or greater than the
density of the original, undisturbed geologic media. Such siting practices have
ensured that additional compaction of the rubble below the waste management unit
does not occur (Hawkins
and Kunkle, 1996a).
The 13 greater confinement disposal boreholes contain mixed waste; low-level
waste; waste similar to
greater-than-Class C
low-level waste; high-specific-activity low-level waste;
and
transuranic and transuranic mixed wastes. Limited quantities of
transuranic waste were also disposed of in Trench 4C and in greater confinement
units located in Area 5.
Since the 1980s, hazardous waste generated on the NTS has been shipped off
site to commercial facilities. Receipt of transuranic waste for disposal at the
NTS ceased in 1988; receipt of mixed waste for disposal from off-site generators
ceased in 1990.
Low-level WasteThe NTS currently operates the Areas 3 and 5
Radioactive Waste Management Sites for the disposal of low-level waste from both
the NTS and off-site defense generators. The Area 5 Radioactive Waste
Management Site uses pits and trenches for shallow land burial of
standard-packaged low-level waste.
Included in the category of low-level waste is
classified waste. Classified waste is low-level waste that is 'classified'
because of the physical shape or specific composition of the material contained
in the waste. Classification creates a need for the use of separate disposal
units which are controlled with additional security measures. Area 3
uses subsidence craters generated during underground nuclear weapons testing for
disposal of bulk low-level waste.
All waste coming to the NTS for disposal is subject to rigid waste
acceptance criteria that mandate waste form, packaging, and certification. All
generators are required to
prepare a quality
assurance program that ensures the NTS waste acceptance criteria are met; this
program is audited by the DOE/NV for compliance. Only after all discrepancies
are resolved does the generator receive permission to ship waste to the NTS.
Once approved, generators are audited annually to ensure the continued adequacy
of the program
(DOE, 1992).
Mixed WastePit 3, at the Area 5 Radioactive Waste Management
Site, has Resource Conservation and Recovery Act interim status to accept mixed
waste. Only NTS generators are currently allowed by the state of Nevada to
dispose of waste in Pit 3, provided the mixed waste meets the requirements in
the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act land disposal restrictions. No
mixed waste has been certified or disposed of in Pit 3 in recent years, even
though the capability exists.
The state of Nevada must approve the submitted Resource Conservation and
Recovery Act Part B permit application for Mixed Waste Disposal Units prior to
construction of the new units, which are intended for use as disposal units for
off-site mixed waste primarily. The state of Nevada will defer review and
comment on the application submitted until the completion of negotiations
between all states and the DOE under the Federal
Facility
Compliance Act. Pit 3 at the Area 5 Radioactive Waste Management Site
contains an inventory of 8,024 m
3 (283,372 ft
3) of mixed
waste. Pit 3 currently has interim status under Resource Conservation and
Recovery Act for disposal of mixed waste generated by the DOE/NV. Thedisposal
cell U-3ax/bl at the Area 3 Radioactive Waste Management Site also contains
mixed waste. However, unlike Pit 3 in Area 5, this cell is completely filled and
is awaiting closure. There are other disposal cells that contain constituents
that would be considered hazardous according to current standards. The disposal
cells at the Area 3 and Area 5 Radioactive Waste Management Sites will be closed
with a Resource Conservation and Recovery Act-compliant closure cap, if
required.
Nonhazardous Solid WasteCurrently, three nonhazardous solid
waste landfills are being used for the disposal of solid waste at the NTS. The
landfills are located in Areas 6, 9, and 23. The Area 6 landfill is a Class III
landfill that accepts hydrocarbon-burdened soil and debris. The Area 9 and Area
23 landfills are currently considered Class II landfills because they each
accept less than 20 tons per day of solid waste for disposal.
The Area 9 landfill is located in Crater U-10c. This landfill is an open,
circular pit with steep, almost vertical sides
which was
formed from an underground nuclear test. The current capacity of the
landfill is approximately 9.9 x 10
5 m
3 (3.5 x 10
7
million ft
3). Prior to the development in 1976 of Resource
Conservation Recovery Act regulations governing the disposal of hazardous
wastes, solid and liquid wastes were disposed of in the landfill. Since 1976,
the Area 9 landfill has received construction and demolition waste, including
paper, cardboard, vehicle parts, glass, concrete, gypsum board, nonsalvageable
scrap metal and wood, and other materials. As a Class II landfill, the Area 9
landfill was allowed to receive all types of nonhazardous solid waste, excluding
radioactive waste, free liquids, and asbestos. The Area 9 landfill receives an
estimated 6,800 tons of solid wastes annually.
The Area 23 landfill is an open, rectangular pit with steep, nearly vertical
sides. The current capacity of this landfill is approximately 4.5 x 10
5
m
3 (1.6 x 10
7 ft
3). The Area 23 landfill
receives all types of nonhazardous solid waste. Nonpathogenic hospital waste,
dead animals, and asbestos-containing materials are buried in separate cells
that are identified by concrete markers. The Area 23landfill receives
approximately 830 tons of solid waste annually.
Although both landfills are currently classified as Class II landfills,
changes in State regulatory requirements will cause the Area 9 landfill to
undergo partial closure and reopen as a Class III construction and demolition
landfill. The Area 23 landfill will remain in operation as a Class II landfill,
but will be modified to comply with new State regulations. The modifications to
both landfills and the associated potential impacts to the environment are
presented in Environmental Assessment for Solid Waste Disposal
(DOE, 1995a).
WASTE STORAGE OPERATIONSWaste storage operations are discussed
under separate subheadings for transuranic and transuranic mixed waste, mixed
waste, low-level waste, hazardous waste, and polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)
waste.
Transuranic and Transuranic Mixed WasteCurrently, transuranic
and transuranic mixed waste is stored on the Area 5 transuranic waste storage
pad in accordance with a Settlement Agreement with the state of Nevada, signed
June 23, 1992. Provisions of this agreement include permission to store
transuranic mixed waste on the pad until the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in New
Mexico, or another DOE site, is available as a possible treatment, storage, or
disposal destination. The agreement does not allow a volume increase for
additional transuranic mixed waste to be received from outside of the
state of Nevada. The
agreement does not pertain to transuranic waste without hazardous components.
A facility is planned to allow the DOE to characterize and certify that the
existing transuranic waste meets the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant waste
acceptance criteria and to prepare it for shipment to the Waste Isolation Pilot
Plant. Facilities for staging and loading the transuranic waste into special
containers will be in place. Some DOE/NV Environmental Restoration Program
projects might generate a limited amount of transuranic waste; such waste will
be stored on the pad and certified before it is transported to the Waste
Isolation Pilot Plant.
Mixed WasteMixed waste is currently accepted for storage at
the Area 5 transuranic waste storage pad under a Mutual Consent Agreement
between the state of Nevada and the DOE that allows storage of incidental mixed
waste discovered or generated during NTS cleanup activities. In accordance with
this agreement, the DOE submitted a Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Part
B permit application to the State in January 1995 for the construction of a
Mixed Waste Storage Unit. Final disposition of this mixed waste is subject to
the agreements reached between the DOE and the State under the Federal
Facility Compliance Act. These agreements will
cover the location and development of new facilities, the use of mobile units,
and the transportation of mixed waste to specified facilities.
Low-level WasteThe NTS has a formal storage facility for
NTS-generated low-level waste.
This facility is located in Area 6 in the vicinity of the
Decontamination Shop. The NTS-generated low-level waste is stored at this
facility while characterization and certification activities are being completed
prior to disposal at the Areas 3 or 5 Radioactive Waste Management Sites.
Hazardous WasteThe Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Part
B permit
for the Hazardous Waste Storage Unit does
not allow for storage longer than one year. Therefore, the inventory of
hazardous waste is
stored for less than one year
prior to shipment to an off-site permitted treatment or disposal facility.
PCB WastePCB waste disposal is regulated as hazardous by the
state of Nevada. All other PCB activities are regulated under the Toxic
Substances Control Act. This waste is accumulated and stored for up to nine
months in the Area 6 Toxic Substances Control Act waste accumulation unit. This
unit accepts only PCB and PCB-contaminated waste generated at the NTS.
Accumulated PCB waste is shipped off site to a commercial Toxic Substance
Control Act-permitted treatment, storage, and disposal facility.
WASTE TREATMENT OPERATIONSWaste treatment operations are
discussed under separate subheadings for low-level, mixed waste, and hazardous
waste.
Low-level WasteCurrently, no radioactive waste treatment
operations occur at the NTS.
Mixed WasteCurrently, no mixed waste treatment operations
occur at the NTS.
Hazardous WasteCurrently, only the Explosive Ordnance Disposal
Unit treats hazardous waste at the NTS. Operating under a Resource Conservation
and Recovery Act Part B permit, the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit is capable
of treatment by detonation of waste explosives, including damaged or expired
conventional explosives. No other types of hazardous waste are treated at the
unit.
CLOSURE OPERATIONSThe DOE/NV is developing a site-specific
design for closure for the Area 5 Radioactive Waste Management Site that will
take into consideration the climate, geology, surface water and regional
hydrology, and waste forms. This project, part of the Integrated Closure
Program, will investigate the optimum design for successful closure integrity in
the arid NTS environment. Closure of the Area 5 Radioactive Waste Management
Site will not occur until after the end of the active life of this area, beyond
the year 2005. A number of alternatives are being considered, from one large
closure cap for the entire Area 5 Radioactive Waste Management Site to caps
for individual waste units. Closure performance
standards include minimum maintenance requirements, provisions for protection of
human health and the environment, provisions for minimizing or eliminating
contaminant release, and complying with applicable regulations and DOE orders.
The Area 3 low-level waste disposal cell, U-3ax/bl, will be closed under
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act requirements because of the presence of
hazardous waste components disposed of before the Resource Conservation and
Recovery Act was implemented.
WASTE MINIMIZATION/POLLUTION PREVENTION PROGRAMThe DOE
is committed to preventing pollution and reducing waste generation at the NTS.
This is accomplished through establishing partnerships with private industry,
and complying with federal, state, and local regulations. The elements of the
DOE/NV Waste Minimization/Pollution Prevention Programaddresses reporting
requirements, compliance costs, reduction costs, employee concerns,
environmental liability, training, and the reduction, recycle, and reuse of
commodities.
Appendix C.6
provides a description of
the DOE/NV Waste Minimization/Pollution Prevention Program.
The following sections address baseline transportation activities with
respect to on-site traffic, off-site traffic, transportation of materials and
wastes, and other transportation.
Figure 4-14
illustrates the NTS transportation system.
.
The main
access to the NTS is the Mercury Highway, which originates at U.S. Highway 95,
105 km (65 mi) northwest of Las Vegas, Nevada, and accesses the main gate in
Mercury. Eight kilometers (5 mi) to the west of Mercury is another entrance,
which is a turnoff to Jackass Flats Road; however, this entrance is presently
barricaded. The NTS has a restricted access into Area 25 from U.S. Highway 95
at Lathrop Wells Road, approximately 32 km (20 mi) west of Mercury. A fourth
entrance, seldom used, is located in the northeast corner of the NTS and can be
reached from State Route 375. Other existing roadways, although unpaved, could
provide entrance or exit routes in case of an emergency. Access to the NTS is
restricted, and guard stations are located at all entrances, as well as
throughout the site.
The 1,12
7-km (700-mi) road network consists of
64
4 km (400 mi) of paved primary roads and
482 km (300 mi) of unpaved secondary roads. Most
paved roadways are two-way and two-lane with
89 km
per hour (kph) (55 mi per hour [mph]) speed limits unless posted otherwise. The
speed limit in developed areas is 3
2 kph (20 mph).
The maximum speed limit on dirt roads is
56 kph
(35 mph). In addition, the NTS contains numerous event-related unpaved roads
that are not maintained after a test has been conducted. Traffic flow and
control throughout the NTS is maintained by conventional stop and yield signs at
major intersections. Traffic regulations are enforced by the Nye County
Sheriff's Department.
SOUTHERN ROAD NETWORKThe primary paved roads in the southern
part of the NTS include Mercury Highway, Jackass Flats Road, Cane Spring Road,
and Lathrop Wells Road (
Figure 4-14
).
Mercury Highway is the primary route from the interchange at U.S. Highway
95. Most of this road is 8 m (26 ft) wide; however, the shoulders vary from 1
to 2 m (4 to 6 ft) wide. Traffic consists of light- and heavy-duty trucks and
cars, security vehicles, and emergency vehicles. The Mercury bypass is a
well-constructed road and runs from just north of Gate 100, the main entrance to
the NTS. This 8-m (26-ft)-wide road was built to enable rerouting of all traffic
with a forward area destination.
Jackass Flats Road from Mercury to the Area 25 support area is a hot-mix
asphalt road, which is in fair condition. Currently, some repair work is needed
to meet
current standards. The road system in
Area 25 is made up of 7-m (22-ft)-wide roadways with
5-centimeter
(cm) (2-in.) hot-mix asphalt surfaces. This roadway provides the
principal access to the Area 25 support region. The Lathrop Wells Road provides
access to Area 25 and the southwestern NTS from U.S. Highway 95. This
plant-mix, oil-and-chip road with no shoulders extends to Guard Station 500
(east of the Area 25 support region) where it becomes Cane Spring Road. Cane
Spring Road extends east to Mercury Highway, where it terminates. Cane Spring
Road is also an oil-and-chip road, except for an asphalt-overlaid section 3 km
(2 mi) west of Mercury Highway.
Vehicles delivering waste shipments to Area 5 use Road 5-01, which was not
constructed to withstand the current or proposed Radioactive Waste Management
Site traffic load. Road 5-01 branches off Mercury Highway approximately 8 km (5
mi) north of Mercury. It is the main access into Frenchman Flat where the Spill
Test Facility, the Hazardous Waste Storage Unit, and the Radioactive Waste
Management Site are located. Road 5-01 was constructed in 1965 to access the
Defense Nuclear Agency weapons compound located northeast of the Area 5
Radioactive Waste Management Site. The road was built over the existing terrain
without runoff drainage considerations and without formal design engineering.
It is less than 6 m (20 ft) wide and has been used for five years beyond its
expected 25-year service life. Road 5-07 provides a secondary access to this
area, which is 8 km (5 mi) south of Control Point-1.
Figure 4-14. NTS transportation system
A new road will be constructed to provide access for waste shipments to the
Area 5 Radioactive Waste Management Site. A new route from the Mercury Highway
to the Radioactive Waste Management Site will be provided. The 5.0-km (3.1-mi)
new roadway will be constructed by extending Cane Spring Road east from Mercury
Highway to intersect with Road 5-01, 0.3 km (0.2 mi) south of the existing
Radioactive Waste Management Site. In addition, improvements will be made to
the Road 5-01 from this intersection into the Radioactive Waste Management Site.
Although Road 28-03 is a low-traffic road, it is adequately maintained
because Area 27 is a high-security area. Tweezer, Angle, and Orange Blossom
Roads are narrow, secondary, oil-and-chip roads
with no shoulders. These roads require periodic maintenance. Orange Blossom
Road has been abandoned, and signs have been posted warning drivers to use at
their own risk.
Paved, local traffic streets in Mercury are approximately 6 m (18 ft) wide,
which is sufficient for the current traffic loads. However, streets do not have
curbs or gutters, and surface drainage is carried in ditches parallel with
streets. Traffic flow through the numerous intersections in Mercury is
controlled by the use of stop signs and yield signs. There is no real pathway
system; pedestrians walk along the side of the roads or through open areas.
The remainder of the roadway network is composed of graded gravel roads and
jeep trails. Gravel roads to event sites are maintained as requirements
dictate. Gravel roads that remain in good condition include Mine Mountain and
Mid-Valley/Saddle Mountain Roads.
NORTHERN ROAD NETWORKThe primary paved roads in the northern
part of the NTS are Mercury Highway, Pahute Mesa Road, Buckboard Mesa Road, and
Tippipah Highway. Other roadsproviding access to the northern areas are Rainier
Mesa Road, Stockade Wash Road, and Circle Road. Pahute Mesa Road from Yucca Flat
weapons test basin to the Area 20 camp is a typical hot-mix paved road. At the
higher elevations, the road is winding and crosses rugged terrain, which is
extremely hazardous under winter conditions. Chains or snow tires are essential
when these conditions prevail. From the Area 20 camp to the intersection of
Buckboard Mesa Road, Pahute Mesa Road consists of graded gravel.
Tippipah Highway extends from the Area 12 camp on Rainier Mesa Road south to
Mercury Highway in Area 6. It is an adequately drained, all-weather highway
that bypasses areas where testing has damaged Mercury Highway. This 8-m
(26-ft)-wide road has 2.5-m (8-ft) compacted shoulders and was constructed with
7.5-cm (3-in.) hot-mix asphalt over a 30.5-cm (12-in.) base.
Rainier Mesa Road, which provides access to the Area 12 camp from Mercury
Highway, was one of the first gravel roads on the NTS. Currently, this narrow
oil-and-chip road with no shoulders requires minimum maintenance.
In the Yucca Flat weapons test basin, the segment of Mercury Highway from
the intersection with Rainier Mesa Road north to Sedan Crater is not passable
for normal traffic because of damage from numerous local underground nuclear
weapons events. Although there are many detours and bypasses from Sedan Crater
to Guard Station 700, the 6-m (20-ft)-wide road is in good condition.
Stockade Wash Road from Area 12 camp to Pahute Mesa Road is a hot-mix
asphalt road in good condition; however, the mountain pass section through
Eleana Ridge is weathered and requires maintenance.
Buckboard Mesa Road
