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Underground Test Area (UGTA) Sub-Project
The Underground Test Area (UGTA) Aub-Project addresses groundwater
contamination resulting from historic underground nuclear testing
conducted by the U.S. Department of Energy at the Nevada Test Site.
From 1951 to 1992, 828 underground nuclear tests were conducted at the
Nevada Test Site. Most of these tests were conducted hundreds of feet
above the groundwater table; however, more than 200 of the tests were in
proximity of, or within, the water table. These underground tests were
limited to specific areas of the Nevada Test Site including Pahute Mesa,
Rainier Mesa/Shoshone Mountain, Frenchman Flat, and Yucca Flat.
Currently, there is no technology available that would allow for the cleanup
of deep, extensive groundwater contamination. Knowing that cleanup is not
feasible, the Nevada Site Office's strategy is to identify contaminant
boundaries and implement an effective, long-term monitoring system.
The first phase of the strategy (already complete) consisted of a
regional evaluation, which explored the groundwater pathways over the
entire Nevada Test Site. The second phase (currently in progress) will
help scientists determine contaminant movement and the boundaries that
are unique to each of the underground test areas. Both of these phases
incorporate various components, such as sampling, contaminant characterization,
computer modeling, and process validation.
Refer to the following Fact Sheets for more information:
Groundwater at the Nevada Test Site [PDF, 190 KB]
UGTA Qs and As [PDF, 539 KB]
In addition, the following report provides more information:
Regional Groundwater Flow and Tritium Transport Modeling and Risk
Assessment of the Underground Test Area, Nevada Test Site, Nevada [PDF, 1.4MB]
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