USGS/USDOE Cooperative Studies in Nevada
Environmental Restoration, Nevada Test Site
Underground testing of nuclear weapons at the Nevada Test Site (NTS) has created potential environmental hazards. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration Nevada Site Office is concerned about these hazards and is committed to comply with existing environmental laws and regulations. In this regard, DOE established and manages the Underground Test Area (UGTA) Sub-Project as part of the Environmental Restoration Project that is tasked with performing corrective actions for inactive contaminated sites and facilities in Nevada where nuclear tests and weapons experiments have been conducted. The UGTA Sub-Project goals are to identify risks where radiological contamination may exist in groundwater as a result of underground nuclear tests, predict the movement of potentially contaminated groundwater, and define the contaminant boundaries or extent of migration of the radionuclides released during testing.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) provides hydrologic expertise and technical guidance to DOE in support of UGTA, primarily on activities related to the characterization of the groundwater flow system. The USGS develops and participates in special studies to address unresolved hydrologic issues at NTS and provides regional synthesis and analysis of hydrologic information gathered through UGTA activities. The USGS provides the lead scientific role in activities to refine estimates of groundwater discharge from downgradient subbasins.
The USGS also participates in program efforts to acquire hydrologic information at NTS and vicinity. Primary activities include the siting of drill holes, developing and reviewing hydrologic testing and sampling plans, and collecting water-level and water-chemistry data from on- and off-site monitoring locations. Participation on other hydrologic studies will be provided in response to DOE requests.
