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4.2 Tonopah Test Range

The Tonopah Test Range comprises 1,616 m² (624 mi²) and has been used by the DOE since the early 1950s. The facility is surrounded on three sides by the NAFR Complex and to the north by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management's open range. The town of Tonopah is located 32 km (20 mi) northwest of the main gate of the Tonopah Test Range and is approximately 241 km (150 mi) northwest of Las Vegas.

Sandia National Laboratories has been the facility operator and site manager of the facility since it was established. The laboratory facilities support their mission in stockpile stewardship, as well as research and design of new weapons and weapon components. The facility offers a unique test bed for testing DOE and DoD weapons. The DOE in the early 1960s conducted several safety-related tests on nuclear weapons, resulting in surface soil contamination of three sites (Clean Slates I, II, and III) that have been managed appropriately since the program.

The existing environmental conditions of the Tonopah Test Range are described in this section.

Figure 4-49. Clark County census block groups

Figure 4-50. Nye and Lincoln counties census block groups

4.2.1 Land Use

Land resources are an important consideration for decisions regarding site use. The land-use analysis determines whether 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 Tonopah Test Range, the DOE must consider several issues, that is, 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 Tonopah Test Range are outlined in this section. Land-use constraints include those features of the Tonopah Test Range, 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 use of the land that can be accomplished within constraints.

Many of the constraints identified throughout Chapter 4 are those resulting from historic land uses, primarily from nuclear weapons safety tests and conventional weapons testing that resulted in radioactive contamination. Public Law 99-606, which consolidated the NAFR Complex under a single land withdrawal, authorizes the use of the withdrawn lands by other federal agencies for "defense-related" uses. For example, a Memorandum of Understanding between the DOE and the U.S. Air Force grants to the DOE the use of portions of the Tonopah Test Range. Consequently, many of the constraints on the DOE's use of land results from the fact that the Tonopah Test Range is used by many other federal agencies, including the U.S. Air Force, for test programs. Because of the nature of many historic and ongoing activities and their consequences, specifically the ongoing use of portions of the Tonopah Test Range by the U.S. Air Force and past DOE safety tests (see Section 4.1.4.3 ), land use will continue to be constrained in some areas of the Tonopah Test Range during the 10-year period covered by this EIS and likely well into the future. Based on more than30 years of operations and the information collected, many of the consequences of past weapons testing and other activities are well understood and documented. For example, between the late 1960s through 1985, non-nuclear weapons testing was conducted at several locations on the Tonopah Test Range. Several of these tests resulted in the dispersion of depleted uranium, beryllium, and other hazardous materials. Some of these areas have been designated for no further use until remediation is complete. Many of the consequences described in this chapter were previously presented in the 1975 Environmental Assessment (ERDA, 1975) and in the EIS prepared by the DOE for U.S. Air Force operations in 1990. The information serves as a basis for evaluating the potential impacts of future actions.

The DOE and U.S. Air Force activities include the construction of remote, fully serviced facilities in the early 1980s to support the development of the F-117A fighter plane. This facility is now operated solely by the U.S. Air Force. Although the full impacts of this operation are not considered in this EIS, they will be fully analyzed during the preparation of the U.S. Air Force EIS for the 2001 land withdrawal.

Information for each affected resource is included in the specific resource discussions in this chapter. In addition, Section 4.2.2.3 , Transportation of Materials and Waste, identifies the transportation of low-level waste from the Tonopah Test Range to the NTS.

4.2.1.1 Public Land Orders and Withdrawals.

The Tonopah Test Range, which is part of the NAFR Complex encompasses 1,616 km² (624 mi²). The NAFR Complex has been closed to public entry since the 1940s when it was withdrawn for military use. Since 1956, the Tonopah Test Range has been managed by the DOE under a Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S. Air Force. A five-party agreement between the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Nevada Division of Wildlife, and the Energy Research and Development Administration (now the DOE) was instituted for the purpose of protecting, developing, and managing the natural resources, wildlife, vegetation, and watersheds on the NAFR Complex, the NTS, and the Tonopah Test Range. The U.S. Bureau of Land Management had previously developed a wild horse range for the protection of wild horses and burros over a portion of the area.

4.2.1.2 Land Use Designations.

The eastern portion of the Tonopah Test Range is designated as part of the 394,000 acres Wild Horse Range that is located in the north-central portion of the NAFR Complex. The Nevada Wild Horse Range is managed by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management under a 1974 cooperative agreement in compliance with the Wild Horse and Burro Act of 1971. The goal of Public Law 92-195 is to protect wild horses from unauthorized actions, and require management of their habitat to achieve an ecological balance and a population of sound, healthy individuals.

With minor exception, the Tonopah Test Range is used by the DOE as a research, design, and testing ground for defense-related activities (Figure 4-51 ).

Area 3 of the Tonopah Test Range contains the majority of administrative and industrial facilities. Within this area is the fenced technical compound of Sandia National Laboratories. The facilities within the compound are administrative and research-related facilities.

Area 9 of the Tonopah Test Range contains all facilities that directly support the DOE weapons testing program. Rocket launchers, Davis gun support equipment, and weapon storage facilities are located in this area. Additionally, ground-to-air related tests are initiated from this facility.

Area 10 of the Tonopah Test Range is occupied by the U.S. Air Force Northern Remote Base. These facilities include the industrial area and housing area. These facilities and activities are not being evaluated in this EIS. U.S. Air Force activities associated with these facilities will be evaluated in the U. S. Air Force EIS for the 2001 land withdrawal.

The remaining land on the Tonopah Test Range is open and used for testing and military training programs. All uses of the Tonopah Test Range are coordinated activities to ensure they are within scope of the land use of the area.

4.2.1.3 Site-Support Activities.

Minor industrial and housing areas (Areas 10A and 10B, respectively) were developed by the U.S. Air Force within the Tonopah Test Range. Other facilities operated by Sandia National Laboratories in Areas 3 and 9 exist on a smaller scale.

FACILITIESThe Tonopah Test Range contains approximately 105 major buildings, providing a gross 15,004 m² (161,505 ft²) of space. The Tonopah Test Range facilities also include approximately 90 smaller buildings, including towers and small sheds.

SERVICESServices available at the Tonopah Test Range include law enforcement and security, fire protection, and health care.

Law Enforcement and SecurityLaw enforcement for the Tonopah Test Range is provided by Nye County Sheriff's Department. Security on the site is provided by Advanced Security, Inc.

Fire ProtectionFire protection services on the Tonopah Test Range are provided by Sandia National Laboratories and the U.S. Air Force.

Health CareA medic serves the Tonopah Test Range medical needs. If serious care is required,

the patient is either transferred to the town of Tonopah or airlifted to Las Vegas, depending on the medical needs.

UTILITIESUtilities at the Tonopah Test Range include water systems, wastewater systems, and electrical systems.

Water SystemsA number of water wells have been drilled on or near the Tonopah Test Range to supply water to the facility (Figure 4-52 ). Well 6 provides potable water to the Sandia National Laboratories facilities, while several other nonpotable wells service the Tonopah Test Range for construction and industrial activities. The water use for DOE operations is 64,345 m³/yr (17 million gal/yr).

The U.S. Air Force has developed a water distribution system of six potable wells to service the industrial and housing areas. The estimated water usage by the U.S. Air Force is 9.5 x 10⁵ m³/yr (2.5 x 10 ⁷ gal/yr). There is an impoundment on the southwestern portionof the Tonopah Test Range that was used to store water during activities there. Other impoundments have been constructed by the DOE in the Tonopah Test Range area to provide water for the wild horse population.

Figure 4-51. Tonopah Test Range detail

Figure 4-52. Domestic wells supporting the Tonopah Test Range

Wastewater SystemsSewage at the Tonopah Test Range is collected and pumped to the wastewater treatment unit located approximately 2.4 km (1.5 mi) southwest of the main gate. Effluent lines and three lift stations connect all DOE and U.S. Air Force facilities to the wastewater treatment unit. This treatment unit is designed to treat raw sewage in compliance with secondary treatment standards. Treatment is accomplished by an aerobic stabilization pond, followed by two parallel evaporation basins. The system allows for final disposal of the wastewater by evaporation and percolation.

Five septic tanks are still in use at remote locations on the Tonopah Test Range (DOE/AL, 1992). Their associated leachfields are used as the only means of treatment for septic tank wastes. These remote septic tanks are occasionally pumped into vacuum trucks and transported off site for ultimate disposition.

Electrical SystemPower to DOE facilities at the Tonopah Test Range is supplied by the Sierra Pacific Power Company. Sierra Pacific has two supply lines to the Tonopah Test Range: one is 120 kV, and a backup line is 60 kV. Sierra Pacific transformers step the voltage down to 13.8 kV for the DOE distribution system. The remaining power line supplies the U.S. Air Force facilities. All remote operations are supplied with electrical power by portable generators.

COMMUNICATIONSCommunications at the Tonopah Test Range are supported by a regional system. The Tonopah Test Range telecommuni cation 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.

The Tonopah Test Range also has a ground-to-air communication system that supports all air-to-ground testing programs. The VHF and UHF communication capability is reliable within a radius of 322 km (200 mi) of the range, depending on the altitude, while high-frequency communication can be reliable for thousands of miles.

Other modes of communication at the Tonopah Test Range include 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.

4.2.1.4 Airspace.

The airspace over the Tonopah Test Range is restricted area R-4809. The airspace is managed by the DOE and designated for joint use by the DOE and U.S. Air Force. Civilian aircraft may gain permission to use the facility in case of in-flight critical emergencies. This area is authorized for supersonic activity above 1,762 m (2,500 ft) above ground level with prior authorization from the appropriate agencies. The area is restricted for live ordnance unless the conditions enforced by the DOE and the U.S. Air Force are met. Currently, flying operations over the Tonopah Test Range are characterized moderate to heavy. The range has a 3,048-m (10,000-ft) concrete runway which can accommodate aircraft rated up to and including heavy cargo aircraft. The runway is lighted and marked for nighttime operations.

4.2.1.5 Waste Management.

The following section addresses solid, hazardous, and radioactive waste management at the Tonopah Test Range.

SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENTTonopah Test Range sanitary waste from DOE and U.S. Air Force operations are disposed of in a Class II solid waste landfill. The Tonopah Test Range landfill is located just east of the U.S. Air Force industrial area. The materials disposed of are characterized as rubbish, construction debris, and sanitary waste from food service areas. The sanitary landfill currently in operation consists of one active cell.

HAZARDOUS WASTE MANAGEMENT The DOE hazardous waste management activities are defined as a small quantity generator and operate in compliance with the Resource Conservation andRecovery Act under an EPA identification number. All hazardous waste generated at the Tonopah Test Range can be stored up to 180 days at the facilities storage area. All waste is then transported off site for ultimate disposition by a subcontractor.

RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT Current plans are to remediate the radioactively contaminated areas on the Tonopah Test Range through excavation and disposal of surface soils. Disposal volume estimates are based on the level of cleanup, but are expected to be large. The remediation waste generated from cleanup of the contaminated soils would be transported to the Area 3 Radioactive Waste Management Site for disposal.

4.2.2 Transportation.

The following sections discuss baseline transportation activities at the Tonopah Test Range with respect to on-site traffic, off-site traffic, transportation of materials and waste, and other transportation.

4.2.2.1 On-Site Traffic.

The Tonopah Test Range on-site transportation consists of 190 km (118 mi) of primary paved roads, 37 km (23 mi) of secondary paved roads, 182 km (113 mi) of primary compacted dirt roads and 63 km (39 mi) of secondary dirt roads. The two primary traveled paved roads on the Tonopah Test Range traverse north-south and east-west. These roads support the majority of the daily traffic, as well as traffic during operations. The dirt roads are used for secondary daily travel, but are primarily used during testing activities. A total 480 km (298 mi) of roads on the Tonopah Test Range are used on a regular basis.

The roadway system on the Tonopah Test Range is jointly maintained by the DOE and the U.S. Air Force. No personally owned vehicles are permitted on the site. Workers either drive government-supplied vehicles from the main entry of the Tonopah Test Range or ride government-supplied bus transportation to the work site. The majority of the on-site traffic is attributed to security support and facility operations. The average estimated mileage traveled on the Tonopah Test Range during 1994 was 2.5 x 10⁶ km (1.6 x 10⁶ mi), driven by 96 government vehicles.

4.2.2.2 Off-Site Traffic

. The primary highway access to the main entry gate of the Tonopah Test Range is via U.S. Highway 6 to north-south alternate Road 504. U.S. Highway 6 links U.S. Highway 95 and U.S. Highway 93 and is an all-weather, two-lane paved roadway. U.S. Highway 6 in the vicinity of the Tonopah Test Range (near Warm Springs) carried less than 500 annual average daily traffic in 1993. Regional traffic conditions in Clark and Nye counties are presented in Section 4.1.2.2 .

4.2.2.3 Transportation of Materials and Waste.

All material and waste are taken off site for management at other facilities, including the NTS, or at commercial waste facilities. No radioactive or hazardous waste disposal activities are conducted at the Tonopah Test Range. The primary roads used for waste and material transportation are discussed in Section 4.2.2.2.

4.2.2.4 Other Transportation.

Because of the remote location of the Tonopah Test Range, the majority of the workers are flown from Las Vegas to the Tonopah Test Range on a daily basis. The DOE uses a DeHavilland seven-commuter airplane to transport the workers. The plane is flown an average of four daily round trips per week and transports approximately 30 individuals daily. The plane is maintained at DOE facilities in Las Vegas and uses U.S. Air Force facilities on the Tonopah Test Range during operations.

The U.S. Air Force maintains an active base on the Tonopah Test Range. This facility is 929 m² (10,000 ft²). The existing runway and navigation aids are open to the DOE and the U.S. Air Force on an as-needed basis. The facility is lighted for night operations. The adjacent airfield is used by the DOE in support of its mission at the Tonopah Test Range. This facility supports approximately 15 sorties per week for DOE operations. The remaining sorties are in support of the U.S. Air Force and other organizations at the Tonopah Test Range.

Mellan airstrip is located on the southern portion of the Tonopah Test Range. This airstrip supports DOE and U.S. Air Force training programs and isused sporadically. There are no support facilities associated with this airstrip.

4.2.3 Socioeconomics

The majority of DOE/NV workers, including those assigned to projects at the Tonopah Test Range, live in Clark or Nye counties (DOE, 1994b). An analysis of socioeconomic conditions in Clark and Nye counties is presented in Section 4.1.3 .

4.2.4 Geology and Soils

Geology and soils at the Tonopah Test Range are addressed in this section. The discussion includes a description of physiography, geology, including geologic resources, and soils.

4.2.4.1 Physiography.

The Tonopah Test Range is located in the lowland portions of Cactus Flat and Stonewall Flat. Cactus Flat is a topographically closed basin with a total area of 1,044 km² (403 mi²). Stonewall Flat is topographically open and encompasses 987 km² (381 mi²). The Kawich Range on the east and northeast of the Tonopah Test Range rises to elevations of 2,438 m (8,000 ft) to more than 2,743 m (9,000 ft). To the west in the Cactus Range, which separates the two basins, the maximum elevation is 2,281 m (7,482 ft). On the south, Cactus Flat is separated from Gold Flat by the volcanic hills around Gold Mountain (about 1,829 m [6,000 ft]) and a low topographic divide through the alluvium to the east. Stonewall Flat is bounded on the south by Stonewall Mountain, which has a maximum elevation of 2,522 m (8,275 ft). On the west, Stonewall Flat is bounded by the Goldfield Hills, which rise to an elevation of almost 2,134 m (7,000 ft). On the valley floors of both basins, the dominant features are a number of small playas and the many washes that drain the upland areas.

The general appearance of the range is of great bareness. The playas support no vegetation, while the lower slopes and mountains support brush, some Joshua trees, and juniper. Only above 2,134 m (7,000 ft) are limited woodlands present.

4.2.4.2 Geology.

The general geologic conditions and mineral deposits of the Tonopah Test Rangehave been described by the Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology. The general geology of the area is comprised of two major geologic units: volcanic rocks and alluvium. Intrusive igneous rocks and a few isolated outcroppings of Paleozoic sediments occur in the Cactus Range.

The total thickness of volcanic rocks outcropping in the Cactus and Kawich Ranges and underlying the valley-fill deposits has been estimated to be as much as 6,096 m (20,000 ft). The Tertiary volcanics are composed of a series of welded and nonwelded ash-flow tuffs and basalts, andesites, dacites, and rhyolites. The Kawich Range is a horst that is bounded on the east by normal faults. The northern part of the range (adjacent to the Tonopah Test Range) is primarily composed of Tertiary tuffs, lavas, and intrusions of Miocene tuff.

The Cactus Range is also a horst that is bounded by an elliptical ring of fractures that suggests a collapsed cauldron. Some of these fractured areas were subsequently intruded with stocks, sills, and dikes. The central part of the range comprises minor Paleozoic sediments, a small granite mass, and a thick sequence of widespread Tertiary volcanic rocks. The hills to the south of Mellan comprise a series of lava ridges separated by valleys of tuff. The hills are capped with rubble formed from weathering and breccias in the lava piles, and breccias formed by the structural deformation (faulting and tilting) of the lava ridges.

The total thickness of alluvium is unknown. Exploratory drilling in Cactus Flat indicates that the thickness exceeds 305 m (1,000 ft). The alluvium is primarily coarse- to medium-grained and is derived from the volcanic rocks of the highlands. Volcanic ash is present in the alluvial deposits.

The Walker Lane shear zone is a major northwest to southeast trending regional structural element that transects the Tonopah Test Range. The Walker Lane is a transcurrent fault zone that extends several hundred miles through western Nevada, merging to the southwest with the Las Vegas shear zone. Numerous volcanic centers are located within or immediately east of the Walker Lane, including the Goldfield, Cactus Range, Stonewall Mountain, and Mount Helen centers. Volcanic calderas are absentover the test range but are present immediately to the east, south, and west on the NAFR Complex.

The geologic hazards present at the Tonopah Test Range are similar to those described for the NTS and include seismicity, volcanism, and geotechnical hazards. These hazards are discussed in Section 4.1.4.2 for the region comprising both the NTS and the Tonopah Test Range.

GEOLOGIC RESOURCESThe geologic resources of the Tonopah Test Range include metals, industrial minerals, and aggregate. The Tonopah Test Range has been the site of historic mining at the Silver Bow, Antelope Springs, Cactus Springs, Wilsons, and Mellan mining districts. The Tonopah Test Range is also adjacent to a number of other mining districts, most notably the Goldfield, Gold Crater, Golden Arrow, Stonewall, Gold Reed, and Jamestown districts. Appreciable quantities of silver and gold have been produced from the Silver Bow district. The Antelope Springs district produced silver and minor amounts of gold. The Cactus Springs district produced small quantities of silver, and there are reports of turquoise, gold, and copper in the area. The Wilsons district produced small quantities of gold and silver in the early 1900s. Minor production of gold and silver came from the Mellan district. Of these areas, only the Silver Bow district is classified as having high potential for locatable minerals.

Immediately to the east of the Goldfield district in the area between the Tonopah Test Range and Goldfield, there is moderate to high potential for the occurrence of quartz-alunite gold deposits. Although gold, silver, and lead have been produced from the Gold Crater and Stonewall districts, production from these areas had ceased by the mid-1930s, and the remaining potential for mineral resources is low.

No geothermal resources have been identified, and the potential for oil and gas resources is considered low. There are no reported occurrences of coal, tar sands, or oil shale on the Tonopah Test Range or adjacent areas on the NAFR Complex. Similarly, no economic deposits of industrial minerals have been identified. Although no uranium deposits have been identified, there are speculative resourcesof uranium. Tertiary volcanic rocks and tuffaceous sedimentary rocks of silicic compositions occur on the Tonopah Test Range and the NAFR Complex. Other uranium host environments are located elsewhere in the Great Basin.

The aggregate resources of the Tonopah Test Range are considerable. Sand and gravel deposits are present, and the quality and quantity of these resources are likely to be sufficient to meet future demands for construction, roads, and other uses. The aggregate resources do not have any unique value compared to other areas throughout southern Nevada.

4.2.4.3 Soils.

The following soils information was extracted from the Soil Inventory of Tonopah Management Environmental Impact Area report prepared by Earth Environmental Consultants, Inc. for the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (Cox et al., 1977).

The Tonopah Test Range is situated in the Basin and Range physiography between the elevations of 1,676 and 2,377 m (5,500 and 7,800 ft). Approximately 15 percent of the soil survey is comprised of mountainous terrain with the remaining portion consisting of alluvial fans, ephemeral washes, valley floors, and dry lake beds. The soil parent material consists of a variety of igneous and sedimentary rock with rhyolitic tuffs and ignimbrite being the most common rock.

Strongly cemented silica pans (i.e., duripans), formed primarily from igneous sources, are the most common feature on most bejadas. These pans usually occur near the surface. In general, soil depth (i.e., depth to restrictive layer) increases from the topslope/shoulder slope of the alluvial fan, downslope to the footslope/toeslope. Indurated hardpans and cemented layers can range from a few inches to several feet in thickness.

The 1977 soil inventory was conducted as a third order survey and mapped to the soil series level. Soil mapping units were derived from field descriptions and delineated on aerial photographs at a scale of 1:31,680 with the exception of Ione, which was delineated on a 1:63,360 photograph. The minimum size of the soil mapping units is10 acre. A quality assurance procedure, called a field correlation, was conducted by the Soil Conservation Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, State Soil Scientist.

Soil Mapping Units consist of consociations, associations, complexes, and miscellaneous areas on the landscape such as rock outcrops, areas with excessive stone, or very steep eroded slopes. The following three out of 10 Soil Orders are found in the survey area:

• Mollisols--soils that contain a horizon rich in bases

• Aridisols--dry soils with low organic matter

• Entisols--young soils with little or no development of soil horizons.

The soils of the Tonopah Test Range and adjacent areas can be separated into four general categories based primarily upon the following physiographic position:

• Valley bottoms and dry lake beds (i.e. playas)

• Upper erosional portion of the alluvial fans

• Mountains and hills.

The valley bottom and dry lake bed soils occur in the central portions of both Cactus and Stonewall Flats. These very deep, poorly drained saline and alkali, fine-textured soils occur on slopes generally less than 1 percent. These low-lying areas are usually points of groundwater discharge. Therefore, depth to groundwater is usually fairly shallow and is manifested by discharging springs or plants that indicate in shallow water table (i.e., usually within 15 m [50 ft] below ground surface). These plants are called phreatophytes with greasewood being the most common in the area. There is periodic flooding from runoff and the shrink-swell potential is generally high due to the abundance of smectitic clays. This can present problems with most construction projects. The corrosion hazard for steel and concrete is high due to the high concentrations of salts. Soil families include:

• Typic Salorthids (e.g., Saltair soil series)

• Typic Haplaquolls (e.g., Hutton soil series).

The lower, depositional portion of the alluvial fan consists of deep to very deep, well-drained, very coarse (coarse sand) to medium-textured (very fine sandy loam/loam) gravelly soils that occur on slopes ranging from gently sloping(2 to 4 percent) to strongly sloping (8 to 15 percent) slopes. The coarser-textured, very gravelly to extremely gravelly soils are located in the ephemeral washes (i.e., arroyos) and are subject to periodic flash floods.

The soils on the actual dissected alluvial fan are generally moderate-textured, gravelly soils that are often covered with desert pavement. Soil families include:

• Typic Torriorthents (e.g., Fang and Cliffdown soil series)

• Typic Camborthids (e.g., Alcorn and Dun Glen soil series)

• Typic Calciorthids (e.g., Puddle).

The upper, erosional portion of the alluvial fan consists of older, very shallow (less than 25 cm [10 in.] thick) to moderately deep (between 51 and 102 cm [20 and 40 in.] in thickness) moderate to well drained, very coarse (coarse sand) to medium textured (very fine sandy loam/loam) gravelly to extremely stony soils. Some soils contain an old, well developed, fine textured (i.e., high in clay) subsoil called an argillic horizon. The presence of a duripan is common and is usually found between 38 and 76 cm (15 and 30 in.) below the ground surface, however, in some areas may be exposed at the surface. Slopes range from moderately sloping (4 to 8 percent) to moderately steep (15 to 30 percent). Soil families include:

• Xerollic Durorthids (e.g., Ursine soil series)

• Xerollic Durargids (e.g., Ratto, Olson, Indian Creek, and Deer Lodge soil series).

The upland mountains and hills consist of rock outcrops, areas with excessive stone, or very steeperoded slopes that generally contain a thin mantle of alluvial or colluvial soils usually less than 25 cm (10 in.). These soils can range in texture from coarse to fine, gravelly to extremely stony, and are dependent upon primarily age and parent material for textural composition. Slopes generally range from moderately steep (15 to 30 percent slopes) to extremely steep (>75 percent). These soils usually have a severe erosion hazard because of their slopes and runoff is generally rapid.

The historic use of the Tonopah Test Range has created certain site-specific restrictions for some surface soils. The clean slates sites included an open detonation on a concrete pad, and detonation in igloo-like structures with varying amounts of earth-cover to simulate accidents in open storage and weapons magazines. Depleted uranium and plutonium were used as a tracer in these Clean Slate tests. The areas that were contaminated with radioactivity from the tests (Figures 4-35 through 4-37) and associated decontamination areas and disposal sites are the subject of Environmental Restoration Program activities that will resolve their ultimate disposition. Until the appropriate investigations have been completed and remedial decisions are made, the soils in these areas are not suitable for use and have been fenced and posted. These sites were studied in the late 1970s by the Nevada Applied Ecology Group. One objective of the studies was to estimate the amount and distribution of plutonium in the soil.

Samples were primarily collected from the top 5 cm (2 in.) of the soil profile. A few profile samples were collected to a depth of 25 cm (10 in.). In almost all profiles, plutonium was detected in the 25 cm (10 in.) increment. Deeper profiles from Clean Slate 1 and 3 showed plutonium at less than 1 pCi/g at a depth of 32.5 cm (12.8 in.) (Essington, 1987).

Estimated areas of plutonium concentrations in soils range from less than 1 acre at greater than 400 pCi/g, through 6 acres at greater than 200 pCi/g, and 81 acres at greater than 40 pCi/g. Clean Slate 2 has 17 acres at greater than 400 pCi/g, 26 acres at greater than 200 pCi/g, and 170 acres at greater than 40 pCi/g. Clean Slate 3 has 17 acres at greater than 400 pCi/g, 49 acre at greater than 200pCi/g, and 180 acres at 740 pCi/g (DOE/NV, 1995c).

Because of the similarities in the types of tests conducted and the consequences of those tests, additional discussion of the affected soils can be found in Section 4.1.4.3 , NTS soils.

4.2.5 Hydrology

Surface water and groundwater at the Tonopah Test Range are addressed in this section.

4.2.5.1 Surface Hydrology.

Hydrographic basins of the Tonopah Test Range are shown in Figure 4-53 . Cactus Flat is a closed basin; runoff from the Cactus Range and Kawich Range drains to a series of small, north-trending playas in the lowlands along the axis of the valley. Stonewall Flat is open, with a small quantity of surface water discharged to Lida Valley. The runoff over the two basins has not been gauged, but has been estimated at 1.5 x 10⁶ m³/yr (1,200 acre-feet/year) for Cactus Flat and 4.9 x 10⁵ m³/yr (400 acre-feet/year) for Stonewall Flat. No perennial streams exist in any of the basins on the Tonopah Test Range. The many washes that drain the upland areas occasionally convey ephemeral flow that ponds on the playa areas.

4.2.5.2 Groundwater.

The Tonopah Test Range encompasses portions of five hydrographic basins that comprise portions of two regional groundwater flow systems (Figure 4-39 ). Past DOE operations have been concentrated in two areas: in the lowland portions of Cactus Flat and in Stonewall Flat. Groundwater that originates as precipitation over the Kawich Range flows west and then southwest under the Tonopah Test Range, ultimately discharging in Death Valley as springs and evapotranspiration. Some groundwater may flow northwest off the Tonopah Test Range and into the Southern Marshes flow system, with discharge at Mud Lake, Alkali Flat, and Clayton Valley. The generalized directions of regional groundwater flow are shown in Figure 4-39 .

Figure 4-53. Hydrographic basins and water resource features at the Tonopah Test Range

The depth to groundwater under Cactus Flat ranges from about 27 m (90 ft) to about 137 m (450 ft) below land surface. Groundwater is derived from precipitation over the upland areas; there is no subsurface recharge from neighboring basins. The total recharge has been estimated at only 7.4 x 10⁵ m³/yr (600 acre-feet/year). Groundwater discharge, totaling only a little more than 1.2 x 10⁶ m³/yr (1,000 acre-feet/year), is through subsurface underflow to the southwest into Stonewall Flat and Gold Flat. No groundwater is discharged to evapotranspiration by phreatophytes.

The groundwater under Stonewall Flat ranges in depth from about 31 m (100 ft) to more than 84 m (275 ft) below land surface. Groundwater is derived from recharge over the upland areas (only about 1.2 x 10⁵ m ³/yr [100 acre-feet/year]) and an unknown quantity of subsurface inflow from Cactus Flat. An estimated 2.5 x 10⁵ m ³/yr (200 acre-feet/year) is discharged through underflow to Lida Valley. No groundwater is discharged to evapotranspiration in Stonewall Flat.

Several springs are located in the north Kawich Range and along the eastern flanks of the Cactus Range. Four spring areas have been mapped within the boundaries of the Tonopah Test Range: Silver Bow Springs on the flank of the Kawich Range, Small Spring near Mellan on the valley floor, and Cactus Spring and Antelope Springs near the base of the Cactus Range. Stinking Spring is located immediately to the north of the Tonopah Test Range, and Rose Spring is located about 10 km (6 mi) to the east, in the Cedar Pass area. There are no mapped springs within the Tonopah Test Range portions of Stonewall Flat or the NAFR Complex. Willow Springs is located about 2 km (1 mi) to the west of the NAFR Complex in the Goldfield Hills. Gauging data are very limited for these springs, and water chemistry data are lacking. A single 1963 discharge measurement of 15 L/min (4 gal/min) was reported for a spring located near the mapped location for Cactus Spring.

The quality of water on the Tonopah Test Range is generally good and is suitable for domestic purposes, livestock, wild horse, and wildlife use. There are a number of areas where the groundwater may have been impaired by past activities at the facility. The nuclear safety tests conducted at the Clean Slates sites on the Tonopah Test Range have resulted in surface soil contamination. Althoughgroundwater contamination has not been detected at these sites, there is the potential for downward migration of some contaminants into the water table. Other potential sources of groundwater contamination include french drains, septic tanks and leachfields, underground storage tanks, landfills, and sewage lagoons.

There are about 1.5 x 10⁷ m ³/yr (12,500 acre-feet/year) of water rights in the five hydrographic basins associated with the Tonopah Test Range. Almost 4.9 x 10⁶ m³/yr (4,000 acre-feet/year) of this total are surface water rights; the remainder (about 1.0 x 10⁷ m ³/yr [8,500 acre-feet]) represents groundwater rights. Currently, defense-related federal water rights total 2.2 x 10⁶ m ³/yr (1,775 acre-feet/year), of which only 1.8 x 10⁵ m³/yr (148 acre-feet) are surface water rights. Table 4-40 lists the water rights status for each of the basins that encompass portions of the Tonopah Test Range. Federal water rights are limited to two basins, Cactus Flat and Stone Cabin Valley. Both basins are over appropriated; i.e., the appropriations exceed the perennial yield in each basin. It is unlikely that additional water rights can be obtained in the area without groundwater mining (the removal of groundwater from storage).

Groundwater on the Tonopah Test Range has been used for domestic, industrial, and construction purposes. Groundwater is pumped from a number of wells, depending on the location of range activities and the total demand for water. Records identifying historic pumping are not available; water use in 1988 was 4.7 x 10⁵ m³/yr (380 acre-feet), and this value is probably representative of long-term use. About 80 percent 2.9 x 10⁵ m³/yr (240 acre-feet/year) of the domestic water is pumped from a U.S. Bureau of Land Management well located north of the Tonopah Test Range on public land in Stone Cabin Valley. The remaining 20 percent of domestic water and water for construction and industry is withdrawn from wells located in Cactus Flat (about 1.2 x 10⁵ m³/yr [100 acre-feet/year]) and Gold Flat (about 4.9 x 10⁴ m³/yr [40 acre-feet/year]).

All water supply wells installed at the Tonopah Test Range were completed in the alluvium. Well yields range from approximately 23 to 606 L/min (6 to160 gal/min). These yields are based on water-supply well-construction completion records prepared by the driller.

4.2.6 Biological Resources

The following description of vegetation was taken from EG&G Energy Measurements (1995) unless otherwise stated. The scientific names of plants and animals mentioned in this section are given in Section 2.6 of Appendix E , Biological Resources.

The Tonopah Test Range is within the Great Basin desert. The lowest elevation on the Tonopah Test Range is approximately 1,600 m (5,250 ft); the highest elevation is approximately 2,301 m (7,550 ft).

The dominant flora of the valley bottoms on the Tonopah Test Range include shadscale, budsage, winterfat, and galleta grass. Less common plant species are horsebrush, greasewood, desert globemallow, and desert prince's plume. Big sagebrush occurs in wash bottoms near the playa lakes. On the bajadas above the valley floor, shadscale, budsage, winterfat, and Indian ricegrass are dominant. At higher elevations, greasewood, wolfberry, hopsage, and desert prince's plume are common. Pinyon-juniper woodlands occur at the highest elevations.

Animal species on the Tonopah Test Range include all species found in the Great Basin desert on the NTS. Some of the most common animal species include side-blotched lizards, desert-horned lizards, horned larks, chisel-toothed kangaroo rats, little pocket mice, and wild horses (Bradley and Moor, 1975). State-designated game animals that occur on the Tonopah Test Range include mule deer, bighorn sheep, pronghorn, mountain lions, desert and Nuttall's cottontails, chukar, and mourning dove.

Vegetation samples were collected on the Tonopah Test Range in 1973 (Romney, 1975) and again in 1990 and 1991 (EG&G/EM, 1993d). Recent plutonium levels in samples of vegetation ranged from 4.0 x 10^-5 to 3.9 x 10^-2 nCi/g dry vegetation, and have not changed substantially over the past 25 years. Many studies in arid and semiarid environments (Francis, 1973; Price, 1973; Romney, 1977; Hanson, 1975; and Hakonson, 1975) have shown that most of the plutonium remains in the soil and is not readily transported. Very little of the contamination is incorporated into the biological components of the ecosystem in similar arid areas (Hakonson and Nyhan, 1980). Plutonium contamination of vegetation at the Tonopah Test Range and the NTS is concentrated mainly on the surface of vegetation and is generally not taken up by the roots and concentrated internally. Small mammals have been collected from the Tonopah Test Range for plutonium contamination analyses in 1974-1975 (Bradley and Moor, 1975) and from other contaminated sites off and on the NTS (Gilbert et al., 1988). From these studies, the following general conclusions can be made: very low levels of contamination (from undetectable levels to a few hundred femtocuries [10^-15 Ci] per gm) were found in animals; desert rodents (which represent the primary consumer trophic level) have very low plutonium levels; most of the radioactivity in rodents is associated with the pelt and gastrointestinal tract and not internal organs or carcasses; and the plutonium contamination does not appear to concentrate up the food chain.

No current federal threatened, endangered, or candidate plant or animal species are known to occur on the Tonopah Test Range, although bald eagles and peregrine falcons may be rare migrants.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service published the latest list of candidate plants and animals on February 28, 1996 (61 F.R. 7596). Prior to this, 10 animal and 5 plant species which were identified as potentially occurring on the Tonopah Test Range were classified as candidates (Mendoza, 1995b) and were addressed in the Draft NTS EIS (listed in Table 4-30 ). The updated Notice of Review has removed all of these species from candidate status. The western burrowing owl, a state-protected bird, is known to occur on this site.

4.2.7 Air Quality and Climate

This section describes the air quality conditions at the Tonopah Test Range. Climatology, meteorology, and ambient air quality are discussed.

CLIMATOLOGY AND METEOROLOGYThe climate is usually dry, but given to large diurnal andseasonal changes in temperature. Clear, sunny days prevail, and the winds are light to moderate. Rainfall is 13 to 15 cm (5 to 6 in.) per year in the valley, primarily resulting from summer thunderstorms. Dust storms are common in the spring, and strong dust devils occur in the summer.

The average temperature at the Tonopah Test Range is about 10 °C (50 °F); maximum temperatures are over 38 °C (100 °F), and minimum temperatures are below -29 °C (-20 °F). The average relative humidity is approximately 40 percent. The average annual snowfall is 30 to 33 cm (12 to 13 in.) (Schaeffer, 1968). Surface wind directions are predominantly from the west-northwest to northwest in the winter and from south to southeast in the summer. Local terrain tends to shift southerly surface winds to a more southeasterly direction. Highest wind speeds occur in mid-afternoon in all seasons, but especially in the spring; highest wind speeds are also strongest for south winds overall. In April, the most frequent wind direction between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. is from the south, with an average speed of approximately 25 kph (16 mph). The annual average speed for south winds is 16 kph (10 mph). Nighttime wind speeds average approximately 10 km (6 mph). There is little diurnal wind direction variability in summer and winter; however, in late spring and autumn, the diurnal cycle is typically northwest nighttime flow and south to southeast afternoon flow (Schaeffer, 1968).

AMBIENT AIR QUALITYThe Tonopah Test Range is located within Nevada Intrastate Air Quality Control Region 147. Although ambient pollutant concentrations have not been measured on the Tonopah Test Range, ambient air quality characteristics are similar to the NTS (see Section 4.1.7 ). Ambient pollutant concentrations on the Tonopah Test Range are below the Nevada and National Ambient Air Quality Standards (Table 4-31 ). The Air Quality Control Region is designated as unclassifiable/attainment for all criteria pollutants.

4.2.8 Noise

The acoustic environment around the Tonopah Test Range and the NAFR Complex can be classified asuninhabited desert or small rural communities. The primary source of noise on the Tonopah Test Range and the NAFR Complex is from the DOE and U.S. Air Force aircraft operations and ordnance testing. Because the public is prohibited from entering the Tonopah Test Range and the NAFR Complex, public exposure to these noise sources is limited to occasional sonic booms produced by supersonic overflights of military aircraft (SAIC/DRI, 1991).

4.2.9 Visual Resources

The landscape character of the Tonopah Test Range is similar to the higher elevation areas of the NTS. The Tonopah Test Range is visible only from an access road off U.S. Highway 6; therefore, visual sensitivity would be low.

4.2.10 Cultural Resources

The resources recorded at the Tonopah Test Range are limited to certain environmental areas, while the archaeological sites within other areas are virtually unknown. Recorded properties cluster within the categories of extractive localities, processing localities, and mining and ranching, but other types of sites are known. Projectile points found on the Tonopah Test Range suggest that the area has been used for the last 10,000 years. At the time of the first European explorations of the area, groups of Western Shoshone people occupied the area. The Kawich band used much of the Tonopah Test Range, while groups from the areas came to Cactus Flat to collect seeds and hunt Beatty and Belted Mountain antelope and rabbits (Steward, 1938).

Based on current knowledge of cultural resources on the Tonopah Test Range, all areas have the potential to contain significant historic properties. Thus, the current Tonopah Test Range boundaries are considered the area of potential effect for cultural resources. To date, 11,549 acres have been surveyed for cultural resources on the Tonopah Test Range. The following section summarizes previous work conducted on the Tonopah Test Range, evaluates the sites according to their types, and assesses their eligibility for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.

Table 4-40. Water rights status for hydrographic basins at the Tonopah Test Range

Hydrographic Basin Number and Name	Perennial Yield		Total Committed Groundwater Resources		Comments
	m3/yr	ac-	m3/yr	ac-
Ralston Valley	7.4 x 106	6,000	2.4 x106	1,917	Basin designated by Order 742, Notice of Curtailment by Order 752. No Tonopah Test Range water rights or use.
Stonewall Flat	1.2 x 105	100	1.4 x 104	12	No Tonopah Test Range water rights or use.
Gold Flat	2.3 x 106	1,900	1.2 x 105	95	Estimated Tonopah Test Range water use in 1988 was 49,339 m3 (40 ac-ft).
Cactus Flat	3.7 x 105	300	7.6 x 105	619	Estimated Tonopah Test Range water use in 1988 was 197,357 m3 (160 ac-ft).
Stone Cabin Valley	2.5 x 106	2,000	2.5 x 106	2,033	Basin designated by Order 720. Estimated Tonopah Test Range water use in 1998 was 296,036 m3 (240 ac-ft).
Sources: Buqo, 1996a.

RECORDED CULTURAL RESOURCESLarge reconnaissance surveys and overviews completed at the Tonopah Test Range include the Seafarer Project (Ferraro et al., 1975), the Mt. Diablo Baseline Survey (Brooks et al., 1976), and the NAFR Complex surveys (Ellis, 1979; Bergin and Roske, 1978; Bergin et al.,1979; Crownover, 1981). Numerous smaller reconnaissance surveys have been completed by the Desert Research Institute including those compiled for the development of a U.S. Air Force base supporting the F-117A on the Tonopah Test Range (DOE, 1988). Figure 4-53 shows the hydrographic basins, and Table 4-41 lists the types of sites found.

Gold Flat Most of this hydrographic basin lies south of the Tonopah Test Range on the NAFR Complex. The portion that is within the Tonopah Test Range is divided from Cactus Flat at the Breen Creek drainage. Seven archaeological reconnaissance surveys have been conducted within that portion of Gold Flat that lies within theTonopah Test Range. Approximately 950 acres were surveyed for cultural resources. Forty-four cultural resources sites have been recorded as a result of these surveys. Of this total, 4 are temporary camps, 31 are localities, and 9 are historic sites associated with mining or ranching. Forty sites have been recommended as eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.

Stonewall FlatMost of Stonewall Flat lies outside of the Tonopah Test Range on the NAFR Complex. Only the extreme eastern portion lies inside the Tonopah Test Range boundaries. Stonewall Flat is differentiated from Cactus Flat by the Cactus Range. Only one archaeological survey has been conducted within the small portion of Stonewall Flat that lies within the Tonopah Test Range. Approximately 215 acres were surveyed for cultural resources. Thirteen sites have been recorded as a result of this survey. Other sites have been recorded in the portion of Stonewall Flat that falls within U.S. Air Force jurisdiction. Of the sites recorded, three are localities, one is a station, and nine are historic mining and ranching sites. All of these sites have been recommended as eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.

Table 4-41. Types of sites found within the hydrographic basins of the Tonopah Test Range

Basin	Prehistoric Site Types							Historic Sites	NR Eligible
	RB	TC	EL	PL	LO	CA	STA	HI	NR
Gold Flat	0	4	0	0	31	0	0	9	40
Stonewall Flat	0	0	0	0	3	0	1	9	13
Ralston Valley	0	2	0	0	36	0	0	2	38
Cactus Flat	0	19	0	2	89	0	0	17	68
Stone Cabin Valley	0	3	0	6	87	0	0	3	63
Totals	0	28	0	8	246	0	1	40	Total NR
Total Tonopah Test Range Sites								323	222
Site type codes: RB=residential base; TC=temporary camp; EL=extractive locality; PL=processing locality; LO=locality; CA=cache; STA=station; HI=historic; NR=National Register of Historic Places.

Ralston ValleyThe extreme southeastern corner of the Ralston Valley lies within the Tonopah Test Range boundaries. This drainage is divided from the Stone Cabin Valley drainage by the Monitor Hills. Only one archaeological survey has been conducted within the small portion of Ralston Valley that lies within the Tonopah Test Range. Approximately 170 acres were surveyed for cultural resources. Forty sites have been recorded as a result of this survey. Of these, 2 are temporary camps, 36 are localities, and 2 are historic. To date, 38 sites within the Ralston Valley hydrographic basin have been recommended as eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.

Cactus FlatMost of the Cactus Flat hydrographic basin lies within the boundaries of the Tonopah Test Range. The basin is bounded by the Cactus Range, the Kawich Range, Gold Mountain, and the Breen Creek drainage. The Cactus Flat region has the highest density of archaeological sites recordedon the Tonopah Test Range. This may be a reflection of the intensity of survey that has occurred in this basin. Forty-eight archaeological surveys have been conducted within the Cactus Flat hydrographic basin and 9,795 acres have been examined. To date, 68 sites have been recommended as eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.

Stone Cabin ValleyThe extreme southern portion of Stone Cabin Valley extends into the northern part of the Tonopah Test Range. It is bounded by the Monitor Hills and the Kawich Range. Six archaeological reconnaissance surveys have been conducted within that portion of Stone Cabin Valley that lies within the Tonopah Test Range. Approximately 420 acres were surveyed for cultural resources. A total of 105 sites have been recorded as a result of these surveys. This total includes 3 temporary camps, 6 processing localities, 87 localities, and 3 historic sites. To date, 63 sites have been recommended as eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.

SITES OF AMERICAN INDIAN SIGNIFICANCEThe CGTO knows that theTonopah Test Range contains significant cultural resources, including plants, animals, archaeology sites, and places of historic value to Indian people. This is known from Indian interviews conducted in the 1930s (Steward, 1938) and recent plant, animal and archeology studies conducted south of this area in comparable environments (Stoffle et al., 1990a; Stoffle et al., 1994b). These studies document long-term and extensive involvement of Indian people in these traditional lands. These were among the last areas lived in before Indian people were forced out of the area to live on more distant Indian reservations. As a result of oral history, Indian people know there are various types of cultural resources located in this study area, but cannot provide site-specific information at this time. No Indian people officially representing the CGTO have visited the Tonopah Test Range or any other portion of the NAFR Complex, although such interviews have been requested and one initial meeting with a NAFR Complex archaeologist has occurred. Therefore, it is not possible to fully assess the cultural significance of the Tonopah Test Range at this time.

4.2.11 Occupational and Public Health and Safety Radiation

The DOE's commitments to quality management of the Tonopah Test Range worker safety and health as well as environmental resources is evident by the establishment of many offices and departments to oversee environmental, safety and health issues.

OVERVIEW - The potential for activities at the Tonopah Test Range to impact the health and safety of the general public is minimized by a combination of the remote location of the Tonopah Test Range, the sparse population surrounding it, and a comprehensive program of administrative and design controls. Visitors to the Tonopah Test Range are subject to essentially the same safety and health requirements as the workers. Safety briefings are provided as appropriate, personal protective equipment is provided when necessary, and radiation dosimeters are issued to long-term visitors. Secondary access control is provided, when necessary, for safety and or security reasons. Operations with higher-than-normal hazards are fenced or barricaded. The health and safety of theTonopah Test Range workers is protected by adherence to the requirements of federal and state law, DOE orders, and plans and procedures of each organization performing work on the range. A program of self-assessment of compliance with these requirements is conducted by the Sandia National Laboratories, support contractors, and the DOE. Workers are further protected from specific hazards associated with their jobs by training, monitoring the workplace environment, using personal protective equipment, and using administrative controls to limit their exposures to chemical or radioactive materials.

All DOE activities on the Tonopah Test Range are in compliance with all environmental and other requirements established by federal, state, and local agencies. The main environmental compliance activities included the operation of a less than 90-day storage area for hazardous waste, minimal cleanup activities associated with the Environmental Restoration Program, and compliance sampling for the public water distribution system as required by the Safe Drinking Water Act.

RADIOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT - Radiological effluent in the form of air emissions are released into the environment as a routine part of operations at the Tonopah Test Range. These emissions are monitored for source characterization and operational safety, as well as for environmental surveillance purposes.

The environmental surveillance of the Tonopah Test Range is focused on the three safety test areas that include approximately 670 acres. Environmental surveillance activities conducted by the DOE and the EPA include air, water, and soil sampling at various locations on the Tonopah Test Range and surrounding areas. The data from these efforts are summarized as annual averages for each monitoring location.

CRITERIA - All work at the Tonopah Test Range is performed in accordance with the safety and health requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration as codified in Title 29 CFR Parts 1910 and 1926. In addition, the following DOE orders provide direction for worker safety and health programs:

• 5480.7A Fire Protection

• 5480.8A Contractor Occupational Medical Program

• 5480.9A Construction Project Safety and Health Management

• 5480.10 Contractor Industrial Hygiene Program

• 5480.13A Aviation Safety

• 5480.16A Firearms Safety

• 5480.1B Environmental Safety and Health Programs for Workers

• 5480.23 Nuclear Safety Analysis Reports

• 5480.28 Natural Phenomena Hazards Mitigation

• N441.1 Radiological Protection for DOE Activities.

INSTITUTIONAL SAFETY PROGRAMS - The Tonopah Test Range supports the following on-site safety services provided by Sandia National Laboratories and other support contractors:

• Fire support services

• Occupational medicine services (limited critical care patients are transported into the town of Tonopah)

• Radiological safety services, including a radioactive material control program to assure that materials leaving the Tonopah Test Range are not contaminated
• Industrial hygiene services.

The above services can be expanded to meet the requirements of the Tonopah Test Range from Sandia National Laboratories' main facility in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

4.2.12 Environmental Justice

Existing demographic conditions for Environmental Justice are discussed in Section 4.1.12 . This discussion includes conditions for the Tonopah Test Range region of influence.