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) 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) Project as part of the Environmental Restoration Division 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 Project goals are to identify risks where radiological contamination may exist in ground water as a result of underground nuclear tests, predict the movement of potentially contaminated ground water, 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 ground-water 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 ground-water 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.
