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Nevada Test Site
Nye County, Nevada
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Office: Nevada Operations Office
Size:
864,000 acres (1,350 square miles)
Mission:
The Nevada Test Site, created in the early 1950s, is used as a detonation and
testing range for both nuclear and non-nuclear weapons.
Overview of Environmental Conditions:
Contamination of onsite groundwater and soil resulting from both nuclear and
non-nuclear weapons testing activities.
CERCLA/RCRA Remediation Funding in FY 95: $31,502,000
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The environmental restoration activities at the Nevada Test Site are being
conducted under DOE authorities. Negotiation of an FFA with the State of Nevada
was initiated in FY 93 under RCRA and the Atomic Energy Act. Negotiations are
expected to be completed during the second quarter of FY 96. A Draft Sitewide
Environmental Impact Statement has been prepared and is expected to be
distributed for public comment in February 1996.
Specific Cost Estimates and Budgetary Proposals
Funds budgeted for environmental restoration for Nevada Test Site total $45.4
million of appropriated funding for FY 96 and $51.1 million for FY 97 according
to the request in the President's Budget.
Progress in Conducting Remedial Actions
DOE submitted a PA and draft Hazard Ranking System scores for the Nevada Test
Site and eight offsite locations to EPA Region IX on April 15, 1988. DOE has
since rescored the Nevada Test Site, using the revised Hazard Ranking System.
The Hazard Ranking System package was resubmitted to EPA Region IX in December
1991. The Nevada Test Site is being evaluated for potential listing on the NPL
by EPA. Although EPA Region IX recommended that the site be listed, EPA has
made no final decision.
Remediation activity undertaken thus far has centered on continued research
into the development of a process to remediate large areas of soils
contaminated with plutonium from past activities. Five bench-scale technologies
have been tested. A preliminary risk assessment and a draft cost benefit
analysis for these contaminated soil sites were completed. Technology
development of radiation detection systems for plutonium also continued. In
addition, an effort to identify, verify, and document all potential release
sites, known as the Environmental Restoration Sites Inventory, was initiated.
Progress on the Underground Test Area Operable Unit also continued.
The Nevada Test Site continues remediation of inactive underground storage
tanks.
There were several RCRA closure activities initiated during FY 95.
Decommissioning of the Junior Hot Cell and SAFER closure of the 5 Point
Landfill at the Tonopah Test Range were completed. The Interim Actions
completed during FY 95 included removal of 12 underground storage tanks and 10
abandoned septic tanks. Four assessments were also completed in FY 95.
Work performed during 1995 for the Groundwater Characterization Project,
renamed the Underground Test Area RI/FS Project, includes drilling of several
new and reconfigured wells, development of a subproject work plan, and data
analysis and modeling studies. The Underground Test Area RI/FS project regional
groundwater model and risk assessment are scheduled for completion in late
1996.
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