Onsite Air Quality Assessment
Non-radiological air quality assessments are conducted on the NTS to:
- Ensure that NTS operations comply with all the requirements of
current air quality permits issued by
the state of Nevada for NTS operations.
- Ensure that air emissions of criteria
pollutants (sulfur dioxide [SO2]), nitrous oxides[NOX],
carbon monoxide [CO], ozone, lead [Pb], and particulate matter [PM])
do not exceed limits established under the National Ambient Air
Quality Standards.
- Ensure that NTS operations comply with the asbestos abatement reporting
requirements under the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air
Pollutants.
- Document usage of ozone-depleting substances
(ODS) to comply with Title VI of the Clean Air Act.
Criteria Pollutants
The tons of NTS emissions of criteria pollutants are calculated
annually and are within the maximum allowable emissions (or PTE,
Potential to Emit) for each NTS permitted facility. The majority of
these emissions are nitrous oxides from fuel burned by diesel-fired
generators.
Refer to Chapter 3 of the most recently published
Nevada Test Site Environmental Report [
PDF, 15 MB] for a description of all NTS air quality assessment
activities and results.
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