Central Nevada Test Area and Project Shoal Site

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INTRODUCTION TO THE NEVADA OFFSITES

FACILITY MISSION

Nuclear testing activities have been conducted at eight locations in five different states as part of the Plowshare and Vela Uniform programs. The Atomic Energy Commission initiated the Plowshare program in 1957 to develop peaceful (industrial and scientific) applications for nuclear explosives. The Vela Uniform program began in 1959 and was part of a Department of Defense research and development program intended to improve the capability of detecting, monitoring, and identifying underground nuclear detonations. All offsite testing ended in 1973.

As part of the Vela Uniform program, nuclear tests were conducted near Fallon, Nevada (Project Shoal), at the Central Nevada Test Area (Project Faultless), on Amchitka Island, Alaska (Projects Long Shot, Milrow, and Cannikin. Of these, only Long Shot was part of the Vela Uniform program; Projects Milrow and Cannikin were part of the nuclear weapons testing program), and near Hattiesburg, Mississippi (Projects Salmon and Sterling). Projects Shoal, Faultless, and Long Shot were designed to determine the behavior and characteristics of seismic signals generated by nuclear detonations and to differentiate them from seismic signals generated by naturally occurring earthquakes. Projects Salmon and Sterling were designed to evaluate seismic signals from both coupled and decoupled detonations in a salt medium (the Tatum Salt Dome).

As part of the Plowshare program, the Department conducted nuclear tests at two sites near Rifle, Colorado (Rulison and Rio Blanco), near Farmington, New Mexico (Project Gasbuggy), and near Carlsbad, New Mexico (Project Gnome-Coach). Projects Rulison, Rio Blanco, and Gasbuggy were designed to stimulate the production of natural gas in tight sandstone formations. Project Gnome-Coach was designed to determine the seismic signals, effects, and products of a nuclear detonation in a bedded salt medium.

Contamination resulting from these tests includes radionuclides; organic compounds; metals, such as beryllium and lead; hydrocarbons; drilling mud; and residues from plastics, epoxies, and drilling instrumentation. The Alaska, Colorado, Mississippi, Nevada, and New Mexico sections of this report contain more specific details regarding the scope and approach of the Environmental Management program offsite locations.

This report does not expect formal land-use plans for the offsite locations in the foreseeable future. However, it does assume the surface of these sites will be available in time for a variety of future uses. However, the Department of Energy will control the access to the subsurface by retaining mineral rights and using other legal vehicles to ensure intrusion into the test shot cavities does not occur. Because of the location of some sites, the Department will maintain control of them until remediation has been completed. Ultimate ownership of some sites is uncertain and is being negotiated with the respective states and other federal agencies, as appropriate.

ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION

All of the sites use the Environmental Restoration program general approach, which is outlined in the introduction to the Environmental Restoration program in the Nevada Test Site. All activities at these sites are conducted within the scope of the Environmental Restoration program.

All of the sites will be involved in a hydrologic monitoring program to ensure there is no movement of possible ground-water contaminants. The hydrologic monitoring programs will continue for approximately 30 years after completion of the remediation activities.

Site Management Structure

Management of the Nevada Offsite Program is provided through the Nevada Test Site. Information pertaining to personnel requirements can be found in that narrative.

COMPARISON WITH PREVIOUS ESTIMATE

The FY 1996 estimated life-cycle costs for the Nevada Offsites program of $43 million represents a nine percent increase over the 1995 life-cycle estimate.

Comparison Table

Site	Thousands of Dollars
	1995 estimate less 1995 expenditure	1996 estimate	Percent Change	Explanation
Amchitka Island (AK)	2,239	6,302	181	- Installation of additional deep monitoring wells
Central Nevada Test Area, Project Shoal Site and Tonapah Test Range	16,290	8,217	(50)	- Resource Conservation and Recovery Act work for the Tonopah Test Range was moved from the offsites into the Nevada Test Site Industrial Sites
Rio Blanco and Rulison (CO)	5,003	6,657	33	- Increase in estimated waste volumes
Salmon Site (MS)	3,683	7,677	108	- Increase in projected drilling requirements
Gasbuggy and Gnome Coach (NM)	12,439	14,511	17	- Contingency added in 1996 estimate

CENTRAL NEVADA TEST AREA AND

The Central Nevada Test Area and Project Shoal site are administered by the Nevada Operations Office. A more thorough description of the environmental activities managed by the Nevada Operations Office can be found in the Nevada Offsite Program narrative. The Central Nevada Test Area is located in south central Nevada, 96 kilometers (60 miles) northeast of the City of Tonopah. The Project Shoal site is located 48 kilometers (30 miles) southeast of Fallon, Nevada.

Estimated Site Total

(Thousands of Current Year Dollars)
	FY 1996	1997	1998	1999	2000
Environmental Restoration	2,059	271	65	66	68	Grey shaded area reflects annual cost estimates for the first five years of the site BEMR Base Case (as of October 1995) and includes 3% annual inflation, see Readers' Guide.
1996 Appropriation	1,940			These levels reflect the current estimates for compliance with applicable statutes and agreements (as of March 1996), see Readers' Guide.
1997 Congressional Request		240
(Five-Year Averages, Thousands of Constant 1996 Dollars)
	FY 1996-2000	2005	2010	2015	2020	2025	2030	Life Cycle*
Environmental Restoration	501	639	198	220	44	42		8,217
* Total Life Cycle is the sum of the annual costs in constant FY 1996 dollars.

FACILITY MISSION

The Department used this site for one subsurface nuclear test, Project Faultless, detonated in January 1968. The Department conducted the test to determine the suitability of the area for additional testing. It also conducted nonnuclear special experiments to determine the behavior of seismic waves. The Central Nevada Test Area is no longer in use. The land surface has been released for unrestricted use while subsurface intrusion restrictions are still in effect.

The Central Nevada Test Area includes radioactive contamination of the deep bedrock around the shot cavity and hazardous waste contamination from the closed mud pits near the surface. Ground water is the most likely transport medium for the deep contamination; however, because of the depth of the contamination (in excess of 976 meters [3,200 feet]) and the remoteness of the site, exposure to humans is unlikely. The Department decommissioned the site in 1973.

Project Shoal is approximately 30 miles southeast of Fallon. The Department conducted a nuclear test at the site in October 1963. The purpose of the test was to determine the effect of a nuclear detonation in a granite rock formation and to compare the seismic activity of natural earthquakes with activity from an underground nuclear explosion. A 12-kiloton device was detonated at a depth of 369 meters (1,211 feet). The test was conducted to improve the ability to detect underground nuclear explosions.

At the Project Shoal site, contamination consists of radioactive contamination of the deep granite bedrock and ground water around the shot cavity and in the access drift for the device emplacement. Ground water is the most likely transport medium for the deep contamination; however, because of the depth of the contamination (in excess of 402 meters [1,320 feet]) exposure to humans or the environment from this material is unlikely. The Department has not confirmed the existence of surface contamination from the abandoned mud pit. Contaminated soil and drill cuttings are reported to have been mixed with clean fill and buried onsite, but the Department has not confirmed this report.

FUTURE USE

This estimate assumes the Department will maintain control of these sites. A definitive future use plan is not complete. However, this report assumes the surface of the sites will be cleaned to a level that permits Open Space use. The subsurface of the sites will be maintained by the Department as a Controlled Access area. The final future-use designation for these sites will be determined by negotiations between the Department and the State of Nevada.

ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION

The environmental restoration strategy will be to characterize ground-water flow and areas of contamination, assess risk, and model contaminant movement away from the shot cavities. The focus will be on tritium, since it is the most mobile of the potential radiological contaminants. The Department will make maximum use of existing data, including monitoring data collected from the Long-Term Hydrologic Monitoring program well networks at each area. The Long-Term Hydrologic Monitoring program sampling has been completed annually at Project Shoal and the Central Nevada Test Area since 1972. The Department of Energy and the State of Nevada are currently preparing a Federal Facilities Agreement to govern future activities at these sites.

TASK	COMPLETION DATE Fiscal Year
Central Nevada Test Area
Assessment	2006
Remedial Action	2015
Long-Term Surveillance and Monitoring	2025
Project Shoal Site
Assessment	1997
Remedial Action	2001
Long-Term Surveillance and Monitoring	2025

ASSESSMENT

Assessment activities provide for the evaluation of data collected at the Central Nevada Test Area and the Project Shoal site. Assessment activities at the Central Nevada Test Area and Project Shoal site will be conducted in accordance with the Federal Facility Agreement and Consent Order. Activities at these sites are assumed to consist of characterizing the ground-water flow using existing monitoring wells and characterizing the surface areas using additional field samples and tests. These activities will provide information for generating a risk assessment for each site. Assessment activities at Shoal are assumed to begin in FY 1996. Assessment activities at the Central Nevada Test Area are not scheduled to begin until FY 2002.

REMEDIAL ACTION

Waste is due to subsurface nuclear detonations in and around the shot cavities. Until characterization activities are completed, remediation activities cannot be completely defined.

Surface contamination at the Central Nevada Test Area consists of surface mud pits at the UC-1 and UC­4 areas that contain drilling mud contaminated with metals and diesel fuel. A risk assessment will be conducted to determine the best method for dealing with the mud pits. Low-level and other waste in and around the subsurface shot cavities will not be removed. Surface waste, assumed to comprise approximately 3,850 cubic meters (5,044 cubic yards) of contaminated soil (hazardous waste) will be shipped to an appropriate commercial disposal facility for disposal.

This estimate assumes the shaft at the Shoal Test Area will be sealed. Negotiations are currently under way with the State to determine the best method for dealing with the shaft. Surface contamination at Project Shoal consists of a mud pit in which contaminated soil and cuttings from the post-shot drilling were mixed with clean soil and buried. This estimate assumes the contamination is below regulatory levels of concern and no removal actions will be required. If the areas of potential contamination are not adequately bounded by the present Long-Term Hydrologic Monitoring program networks, or if there are potential exposure pathways not presently monitored, remedial actions may include adding more monitoring wells to the existing network, placing use restrictions on the ground water, excavating surface mud pits, and sealing and abandoning the Shoal shaft.

LONG-TERM SURVEILLANCE AND MONITORING

The Environmental Protection Agency is monitoring the Project Shoal site and the Central Nevada Test Area as part of the Long-Term Hydrologic Monitoring program. Monitoring consists of sampling selected ground-water and surface-water collection locations around each site. Sampling requires approximately one week per year per site, plus the analysis of approximately 20 samples per site per year. Modifications to the Long-Term Hydrologic Monitoring program networks and ground-water use restrictions will be documented in a Corrective Action Decision Document. This report assumes assessment and remedial action effort costs will continue to pay for this program.

Environmental Restoration Activities Cost Estimate

(Five-Year Averages, Thousands of Constant 1996 Dollars)
	FY 1996-2000	2005	2010	2015	2020	2025	2030	Life Cycle*
Nevada Offsite - Central Nevada Test Site
Assessment	14	190	44					1,238
Remedial Action		363	66	110				2,697
Nevada Offsite - Project Shoal Test Area
Assessment	100	79	55	55	22	20		1,654
Remedial Action	387	7						1,968
Long-Term Surveil. and Monitoring			33	55	22	22		660
Total	501	639	198	220	44	42		8,217
* Total Life Cycle is the sum of the annual costs in constant FY 1996 dollars.

FUNDING ESTIMATE

The following table presents funding information for the Central Nevada Test Area and Project Shoal site.

Nondefense Funding Estimate

(Five-Year Averages, Thousands of Constant 1996 Dollars)
	FY 1996-2000	2005	2010	2015	2020	2025	2030	Life Cycle*
Environmental Restoration	501	639	198	220	44	42		8,217
* Total Life Cycle is the sum of the annual costs in constant FY 1996 dollars.

COMPARISON WITH PREVIOUS ESTIMATE

Environmental Management program costs at the Central Nevada Test Area and Project Shoal site are limited to Environmental Restoration program assessment, remediation, and surveillance and monitoring costs. Both the 1995 and 1996 cost estimates are based on characterization activities that are not complete and which, upon completion, could change the cost assumptions regarding needed remedial action. The 1996 life-cycle cost estimate for the two sites is $8.2 million. This is about $10 million less than the 1995 estimate for the entire Central Nevada Test Area. However, the 1995 estimate included the Tonopah Test Range activities. The Department has since transferred Tonopah Test Range activities to the Nevada Test Site, Industrial Sites Category. This change accounts for most of the $10 million reduction in the 1996 estimated life-cycle cost.