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The information presented in this document is explained in greater detail in the Nevada Test Site 

Environmental Report 2008 (DOE/NV/25946--790). A compact disc of this document is included on the back 

inside cover. This document can also be downloaded from the National Nuclear Security Administration 

Nevada Site Office at http://www.nv.doe.gov/library/publications/environmental.aspx.

For more information about the Nevada Test Site’s Environmental Report, contact Pete Sanders at

(702) 295-1037 or sanders@nv.doe.gov. 

This report was prepared for:

U.S. Department of Energy

National Nuclear Security Administration

Nevada Site Office

under Contract DE-AC52-06NA25946

by:

National Security Technologies, LLC

Post Office Box 98521

Las Vegas, NV 89193-8521
1 

Nevada Test Site 

Environmental Report Summary 2008 

The U.S. Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration Nevada Site Office (NNSA/NSO) 

directs the management and operation of the Nevada Test Site (NTS). The NTS is the nation’s historical testing 

site for nuclear weapons from 1951 through 1992 and is currently the nation’s unique site for ongoing national 

security–related missions and high-risk operations. NNSA/NSO strives to provide to the public an understanding 

of the current activities on the NTS, including environmental monitoring and compliance activities aimed at 

protecting the public and the environment from radiation hazards and from nonradiological impacts. This 

document is a summary of the Nevada Test Site Environmental Report (NTSER) for calendar year 2008 (see 

attached compact disc on inside back cover). The NTSER is a comprehensive report of environmental activities 

performed at the NTS and offsite facilities over the previous calendar year. It is prepared annually to meet the 

requirements and guidelines of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the information needs of NNSA/NSO 

stakeholders. To provide an abbreviated and more readable version of the NTSER, this summary report is 

produced. This summary does not include detailed data tables, monitoring methods or design, a description of the 

NTS environment, or a discussion of all environmental program activities performed throughout the year. The 

reader may obtain a hard copy of the full NTSER as directed on the inside front cover of this summary report. 

The NTS is located about 65 miles northwest of Las Vegas. The approximately 1,375-square mile site is one of 

the largest restricted access areas in the United States. It is surrounded by federal installations with strictly 

controlled access as well as by lands that are open to public entry. 
2 

NTS - Continental Test Site 

After the end of World War II, the United 

States tested nuclear weapons at Bikini 

Atoll and Enewetak in the Marshall 

Islands of the Central Pacific. 

In June 1950, with the outbreak of 

hostilities in Korea and U.S. relations 

with the Soviet Union continuing to 

deteriorate, the search began for a 

continental test site to overcome the 

difficulties with remoteness and security 

experienced with testing in the Pacific. 

The final choices included Dugway 

Proving Ground–Wendover Bombing 

Range in western Utah, AlamagordoWhite Sands Guided Missile Range in 

south-central New Mexico, and a North 

Site and a South Site on the Las Vegas 

Bombing and Gunnery Range in 

southern Nevada. 

On December 18, 1950, President Truman 

approved the recommendations of Los 

Alamos testing officials and the Atomic 

Energy Commission, christening the 

South Site on the Las Vegas Bombing 

and Gunnery Range as the nation’s 

continental test site. It is called the 

Nevada Proving Ground. 

On Saturday, January 27, 1951, an Air 

Force B-50D bomber dropped a 

1-kiloton yield nuclear bomb over 

Frenchman Flat. It was the world’s 

tenth nuclear detonation and was the 

first NTS test. 

On September 23, 1992, the last 

underground nuclear test was conducted 

on the NTS after which Congress 

imposed a moratorium on nuclear 

weapons testing. 

Since 1951, a total of 100 atmospheric and 

828 underground nuclear weapons tests 

were conducted at the NTS.

Source: T. R. Fehner and F. G. Gosling, 2000. 

Origins of the Nevada Test Site, DOE/MA0518, History Division, Executive Secretariat, 

Management and Administration, 

U.S. Department of Energy. 

NTS History 

Between 1940 and 1950, the area now known as the NTS was part 

of the Las Vegas Bombing and Gunnery Range. In 1950, the NTS 

was established as the primary location for testing the nation’s 

nuclear explosive devices. Such testing took place from 1951 to 

1992. 

Tests conducted through the 1950s were predominantly 

atmospheric tests. These involved a nuclear explosive device 

detonated while on the ground surface, on a steel tower, suspended 

from tethered balloons, dropped from an aircraft, or placed on a 

rocket. Several tests were categorized as “safety experiments” and 

“storage-transportation tests,” involving the destruction of a 

nuclear device with non-nuclear explosives. Some of these tests 

resulted in dispersion of plutonium in the test vicinity. One of 

these test areas, Project 57, lies just north of the NTS boundary on 

the Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR). Other tests, 

involving storage-transportation, were conducted at the north end 

of the NTTR (Double Tracks) and on the Tonopah Test Range 

(TTR) (Clean Slates I, II, and III). All nuclear device tests are 

listed in United States Nuclear Tests, July 1945 through September 

1992 (U.S. Department of Energy, Nevada Operations Office, 

2000, DOE/NV--209, Rev. 15).

The first underground test, a cratering test, was conducted in 1951. 

The first totally contained underground test was in 1957. Testing 

was discontinued during a moratorium that began October 31, 

1958, but was resumed in September 1961 after tests by the Union 

of Soviet Socialist Republics began. Since late 1962, nearly all 

tests have been conducted in sealed vertical shafts drilled into 

Yucca Flat and Pahute Mesa or in horizontal tunnels mined into 

Rainier Mesa. From 1951 to 1992, a total of 828 underground 

nuclear tests were conducted at the NTS. Approximately one-third 

of these tests was detonated near or below the water table. 

Five earth-cratering (shallow-burial) tests were conducted over the 

period of 1962 through 1968 as part of the Plowshare Program that 

explored peaceful uses of nuclear explosives. The first and highest 

yield Plowshare crater test, Sedan, was detonated at the northern 

end of Yucca Flat on the NTS. The second-highest yield crater test 

was Schooner, located in the northwest corner of the NTS. Mixed 

fission products, tritium, and plutonium from these tests were 

entrained in the soil, ejected from the craters, and deposited on the 

ground surrounding the craters. 

Other nuclear-related experiments at the NTS included the Bare 

Reactor Experiment-Nevada series in the 1960s. These tests were 

performed with a 14-million electron volt neutron generator 

mounted on a 1,527-foot steel tower used to conduct neutron and 

gamma-ray interaction studies on various materials and assess 

radiation doses experienced by the nuclear bomb survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. In addition, from 1959 

through 1973 a series of open-air nuclear reactor, nuclear engine, and nuclear furnace tests were conducted in 

Area 25, and a series of tests with a nuclear ramjet engine was conducted in Area 26. The test released mostly 

gaseous radioactivity (radio-iodines, radio-xenons, radio-kryptons) and some fuel particles due to erosion of the 

metal cladding on the reactor fuel; these releases resulted in negligible deposition on the ground.
3 

Historic Nuclear Testing Areas 
4 

NTS Missions and Their Programs

National Security

Stockpile Stewardship Program – Conducts 

high-hazard operations in support of defenserelated nuclear and national security experiments. 

Homeland Security Program – Provides support 

facilities, training facilities, and capabilities for 

government agencies involved in counterterrorism 

activities, emergency response, first responders, 

national security technology development, and 

nonproliferation technology development. 

Test Readiness Program – Maintains the capability to resume underground nuclear weapons 

testing, if directed. 

Environmental Management

Environmental Restoration Program – 

Characterizes and remediates the environmental 

legacy of nuclear weapons and other testing at the 

NTS and offsite locations and develops and 

deploys technologies that enhance environmental 

restoration. 

Waste Management Program – Manages and 

safely disposes of low-level waste received from 

DOE- and U.S. Department of Defense-approved 

facilities throughout the United States and mixed 

low-level waste generated in Nevada by 

NNSA/NSO, and safely manages and characterizes 

hazardous and transuranic wastes for offsite 

disposal. 

Stewardship of the NTS

Facilities and Infrastructure – Maintains the 

buildings, roads, utilities, and facilities required to 

support all NTS programs and to provide a safe 

environment for NTS workers. 

The NTS Now 

Los Alamos, Lawrence Livermore, and Sandia 

National Laboratories are the principal organizations that sponsor and implement experimental 

programs at the NTS. The three major NTS 

missions include National Security, Environmental 

Management, and Stewardship of the NTS. During 

the conduct of all missions and their programs, 

NNSA/NSO complies with applicable environmental and public health protection regulations and 

strives to manage the land and facilities at the NTS 

as a unique and valuable national resource. In 2008, 

National Security Technologies, LLC (NSTec), was 

the Management and Operations contractor 

accountable for the successful execution of work 

and ensuring that work was performed in 

compliance with environmental regulations. 

NTS activities in 2008 continued to be diverse, with 

the primary goal being to ensure that the existing 

U.S. stockpile of nuclear weapons remains safe and 

reliable. Facilities that support this mission include 

the U1a Facility, the Big Explosives Experimental 

Facility (BEEF), the Device Assembly Facility 

(DAF), and the Joint Actinide Shock Physics 

Experimental Research (JASPER) Facility. 

Facilities that support the Homeland Security 

program include the new Radiological/Nuclear 

Countermeasures Test and Evaluation Complex 

(RNCTEC), which became operational in 2009. 

Facilities that support the Waste Management 

Program include the Area 5 Radioactive Waste 

Management Complex (RWMC) and the Area 3 

Radioactive Waste Management Site (RWMS). 

Other NTS activities include demilitarization 

activities; controlled spills of hazardous material at 

the Nonproliferation Test and Evaluation Complex 

(NPTEC) (formerly known as the Hazardous 

Materials Spill Center); remediation of contaminated sites; processing of waste destined for the 

Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in Carlsbad, New 

Mexico, or the Idaho National Laboratory in Idaho 

Falls, Idaho; disposal of radioactive and mixed 

waste; and environmental research. 
5 

Legacy Contamination 

Groundwater – Areas of known and potential 

groundwater contamination on the NTS due to 

underground nuclear testing are called Underground 

Test Area (UGTA) Corrective Action Units. It is 

estimated that 300 million curies (Ci) of radiation 

were released underground during 828 nuclear tests. 

The total amount of radiation deposited below the 

groundwater table is approximately 60 million Ci, 

based on the last decay-corrected calculation from 

1992. Since there is no feasible technology available 

that would allow for the cleanup of deep, extensive 

groundwater contamination, the strategy of the 

Environmental Management Program is to identify 

contaminant boundaries and implement an effective 

long-term monitoring system. 

Soil – Radioactively contaminated surface soils 

directly resulting from nuclear weapons testing occur 

at approximately 100 sites on and around the NTS. 

Closure of these sites is conducted in accordance 

with the Federal Facility Agreement and Consent 

Order (FFACO) and upon approval by the State of 

Nevada. Corrective actions required to complete 

closure range from removal of soil to closure in place 

with restricted access controls, such as fencing and 

posting. 

Air – Airborne radioactive contamination from the 

resuspension of contaminated soils at legacy sites and 

from current activities (such as waste management) is 

monitored continuously on and off the NTS. Since 

the cessation of atmospheric nuclear testing, the 

annual amounts of radiation released into the air from 

the NTS have ranged from 48 to 2,200 Ci for tritium, 

0.0018 to 0.40 Ci for plutonium, and 0.039 to 0.049 

Ci for americium. These emissions cannot be 

distinguished from the background airborne radiation 

measured in communities surrounding the NTS. 

Structures/Materials – There are approximately 

1,850 sites where facilities, equipment, structures, 

and/or debris were contaminated by historic nuclear 

research, development, and testing activities. The 

responsibility for remediating these Industrial Sites 

belongs to the Environmental Restoration Project. As 

of December 31, 2008, 1,736 sites have been 

approved for final completion in accordance with the 

FFACO and approved by the State of Nevada. 

Waste Disposal – Low-level and mixed low-level 

radioactive waste have been generated by historic 

nuclear research, development and testing activities, 

and environmental cleanup activities. More than 

1.37 million cubic yards of this waste have been 

safely disposed at the Area 3 and Area 5 Radioactive 

Waste Management Sites as of December 31, 2008. 

The estimated total amount of radioactivity at the 

time of disposal was 14.04 million Ci. The 

radioactive content of the disposed waste decays over 

time at a varied rate depending on the radionuclide. 

The Legacy of NTS Nuclear Testing

Approximately one-third of the 828 underground 

nuclear tests on the NTS was detonated near or below 

the water table resulting in the contamination of 

groundwater in some areas. In addition, the 100 

atmospheric nuclear tests conducted on the NTS and 

numerous nuclear-related experiments resulted in the 

contamination of surface soils, materials, equipment, 

and structures, mainly on the NTS. The NNSA/NSO 

Environmental Management Mission was established 

to address this legacy of contamination. Within 

Environmental Management, the Environmental 

Restoration Project is responsible for remediating 

contaminated sites, and the Waste Management Project 

is responsible for safely managing and disposing 

radioactive waste. 

The primary regulatory driver of the Environmental 

Restoration Project is the Federal Facility Agreement 

and Consent Order (FFACO) between the State of 

Nevada, DOE, and U.S. Department of Defense. The 

FFACO identifies Corrective Action Units (CAUs), 

which are groupings of Corrective Action Sites (CASs) 

that delineate and define areas of concern for contamination. Approximately 2,800 CASs have been 

identified, many of which have already been remediated and/or closed. The public is kept informed of 

Environmental Management activities through periodic 

newsletters, exhibits, and fact sheets, and 

Environmental Management provides the opportunity 

for public input via the Community Advisory Board, 

consisting of 15–20 citizen volunteers from Nevada. 

Locations of Soil Contamination on and off the NTS
6 

Areas of Potential Groundwater Contamination on the NTS 
7 

Sources of Radiological Air Emissions on the NTS 
8 

Understanding Radiation 

Radiation is energy that travels through matter or 

space in the form of waves or high-speed particles. 

Light, heat, and sound are types of radiation. Ionizing 

radiation is a very high-energy form of 

electromagnetic radiation. Ionizing radiation are 

particles or rays given off by unstable atoms as they 

are converted, or decay, into more stable atoms. 

Ionizing radiation may be found everywhere. Almost 

all exposure to ionizing radiation comes from natural 

sources (82 percent in the United States). These 

sources include cosmic radiation from outer space, 

terrestrial radiation from materials like uranium and 

radium in the earth, and naturally occurring 

radioactive elements (i.e., radionuclides) in our food, 

water, and the aerosols and gases in the air we 

breathe. Exposures to man-made radiation in our 

everyday life come from smoking cigarettes, traveling 

on airplanes, and having medical X-rays. For the 

public surrounding the NTS, less than 1 percent of 

their total radiation exposure is now attributable to 

past or current NTS activities. 

Understanding Radiation Dose 

Dose is a generic term to describe the amount of 

radiation a person receives. The energy deposited 

indicates the number of molecules disrupted. The 

energy the radiation deposits in tissue is called the 

absorbed dose. The units of measure of absorbed 

dose are the rad or the gray. The biological effect of 

radiation depends on the type of radiation (alpha, beta, 

gamma, or X-ray) and the tissues exposed. A measure 

of the biologic risk of the energy deposited is the dose 

equivalent. The units of dose equivalent are called 

rems or sieverts. In this report, the term dose is used 

to mean dose equivalent measured in rems. A 

thousandth of a rem is called a millirem, abbreviated 

as mrem. An average person in the United States 

receives about 300 mrem each year from natural 

sources and an additional 60 mrem from medical 

procedures, consumer products, and activities. 

Whether or not there is a “safe” radiation dose 

equivalent is a controversial subject. Because the 

topic has yet to be settled scientifically, regulators 

Forms of Radiation 

Alpha particles are heavy, positively charged particles given off by some decaying atoms. Alpha 

particles can be blocked by a sheet of paper. Atoms emitting alpha particles are hazardous only if 

they are swallowed or inhaled. 

Beta particles are electrons or positrons (positively charged electrons) ejected from the nucleus of a 

decaying atom. More penetrating than alpha radiation, beta particles can pass through several 

millimeters of skin. A sheet of aluminum only a fraction of an inch thick will stop beta radiation. 

Beta particles can damage skin, but are most hazardous if the beta-emitting atoms are swallowed 

or inhaled. 

Gamma rays are waves of pure energy similar to X-rays, light, microwaves, and radio waves. 

Gamma rays are emitted by certain radionuclides when their nuclei transition from a higher to a 

lower energy state. They can readily pass into the human body. They can be almost completely 

blocked by about 40 inches of concrete, 40 feet of water, or a few inches of lead. Gamma rays can 

be both an external and internal hazard. 

X-rays are a more familiar form of electromagnetic radiation, usually with a limited penetrating 

power, typically used in medical or dental examinations. Television sets, especially color, give off 

soft (low-energy) X-rays; thus, they are shielded to greatly reduce the risk of radiation exposure. 

Neutrons are uncharged heavy particles contained in the nucleus of every atom heavier than ordinary 

hydrogen. They induce ionization only indirectly in atoms that they strike, but can damage body 

tissues. Neutrons are released, for example, during the fission (splitting) of uranium atoms in the 

fuel of nuclear power plants. They can also be very penetrating. In general, efficient shielding 

against neutrons can be provided by materials containing hydrogen, such as water. Like gamma 

rays, neutrons are both an external and internal hazard. 

urie (Ci) is the traditional measure of 

radioactivity based on the observed decay

rate of 1 gram of radium. One curie of 

radioactive material will have 37 billion 

disintegrations in 1 second. 

C
9 

Common Doses to the Public 

Source/Activity

Average Dose/Year

(or as noted)

Five-hour jet plane ride 3 mrem

Building materials 4 mrem

Chest X-ray 8 mrem

Cosmic 30 mrem

Soil 35 mrem

Internal to our body 40 mrem

Mammogram 138 mrem

Radon gas 200 mrem

CT scan 2,500 mrem

Smoking 20 cigarettes/day 5,300 mrem to a smoker’s lung

One cancer treatment 5,000,000 mrem to the tumor

Source: <http://hss.energy.gov/HealthSafety/WSHP/radiation/Radiation-final-6-20.pdf>,

accessed on 5/14/2009

Radionuclides Detected on the NTS

Name* Abbreviation

Primary Type(s) 

of Radiation Major NTS Source

Americium-241 241Am Alpha, gamma

Cesium-137 137Cs Beta, gamma

Plutonium-238 238Pu Alpha

Strontium-90 90Sr Beta

 In soil at and near legacy sites of aboveground nuclear testing. 

 Detected in soil and air.

Plutonium239+240

239+240Pu Alpha In soil at and near legacy sites of plutonium dispersal experiments.

M

 Detected in soil and air. anMade

Tritium 3H Beta In groundwater in areas of underground nuclear tests, in surface

 ponds used to contain contaminated groundwater, in soil at nuclear

 test locations, in waste packages buried in pits at waste

 management sites. Detected in groundwater and air.

Be-7 7Be Gamma Produced by interactions between cosmic radiation from the sun

 and the earth’s upper atmosphere. Detected in air.

Potasium-40 40K Beta, gamma

Radium-226 226Ra Alpha, gamma

Thorium-232 232Th Alpha**

Uranium-234 234U Alpha**

Uranium-235 235 U Alpha, gamma** Naturally

Occ

urri

ng

Uranium-238 238 U Alpha**

 Naturally occurring in the earth’s crust. Detected in groundwater,

 soil, and air.

*The number given with the name of the radionuclide is the atomic mass number and is the number of protons and neutrons together in the nucleus

of the atom. Radionuclides with the same number of protons are the same element and radionuclides of the same element are called isotopes of one

another. Plutonium and uranium each have several radioactive isotopes that are detected on the NTS.

**The type of radiation may also include beta and gamma emitted from progeny or daughter radionuclides produced by the natural decay of the

original or parent radionuclide listed.

take a conservative approach and assume that

there is no such thing as a 100 percent safe dose

equivalent, and it is assumed that the risk of

developing an adverse health effect (such as

cancer) is proportionate to the amount of radiation

dose. Many human activities increase our

exposure to radiation over and above the average

background radiation dose of 300 mrem per year. 

These activities include, for example, uranium

mining, airline travel, and operating nuclear

power plants. Regulators balance the benefit of

these activities to the risk of increasing radiation

exposures above background, and as a result, set

dose limits for the public and workers specific to

these activities. The DOE has set the dose limit

to the public from exposure to DOE-related 

nuclear activities to 100 mrem/yr. This is the

same public dose limit set by the U.S. Nuclear

Regulatory Commission (NRC) and recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection and the National Commission

on Radiological Protection and Measurements. 

The NRC has set the dose limit for radiation workers to 

5 rem/yr. There is no regulatory standard for radiation

dose limits to workers or the public across industries,

states, or countries.
10 

Potential Dose Pathways to the Public

Public Dose Limits for NTS Radiation 

 10 mrem/yr – This is the dose limit to the public 

(above natural background) from just the air 

transport pathway, as specified by the Clean 

Air Act National Emission Standards for 

Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP). 

 100 mrem/yr – This is the dose limit to the 

public (above natural background) from all 

possible pathways combined, as specified by 

DOE Order DOE O 5400.5, “Radiation 

Protection of the Public and the 

Environment.” 

Monitoring NTS Radiation and 

Pathways of Exposure to the Public 

The release of man-made radionuclides from the NTS 

has been monitored since the first decade of 

atmospheric testing. After 1962 when nuclear tests 

were conducted only underground, the radiation 

exposure to the public surrounding the NTS was 

greatly reduced. Underground nuclear testing nearly 

eliminated atmospheric releases of radiation, but 

resulted in the contamination of groundwater in some 

areas of the NTS. After the 1992 moratorium on 

nuclear testing, radiation monitoring focused on 

detecting airborne radionuclides that are resuspended 

with historically contaminated soils on the NTS and 

on detecting man-made

radionuclides in 

groundwater. 

There are three pathways 

in this dry desert 

environment by which 

man-made radionuclides 

from the NTS might reach 

the surrounding public: 

Air Transport Pathway – 

Members of the public 

may inhale or ingest 

radionuclides that are 

resuspended by the wind 

from known contaminated 

sites on the NTS. 

However, such 

resuspended radiation 

measured off and on the 

NTS is much lower than 

natural background radiation in all areas accessible to the public. 

Ingestion Pathway – Members of the public may ingest game animals that 

have been exposed to contaminated soil or water on the NTS, have moved off 

the NTS, and have then been hunted. 

Groundwater Pathway – Drinking contaminated groundwater is currently not a possible pathway for public 

exposure given the restricted public access to the NTS and the location of known contaminated groundwater on the 

NTS. No man-made radionuclides occur in drinking water sources monitored off the NTS, and no drinking water 

wells on the NTS have measurable levels of man-made radionuclides. Only the groundwater from monitoring 

wells drilled near underground tests on the NTS show radioactive contamination. 
11 

Estimated 2008 Radiation Dose to the 

Public from NTS Operations

Inhalation – Compliance with radiation dose limits to 

the general public from the air transport pathway is 

demonstrated using air sampling results from six 

onsite “critical receptor” sampling stations. The 

radionuclides detected at four or more of the NTS 

critical receptor samplers were 241Am, 238Pu, 239+240Pu, 

233+234U, 235+236U, 238U, and 3

H. The uranium isotopes 

are attributed to naturally occurring uranium. As in 

previous years, the 2008 data from the six critical 

receptor samplers show that the NESHAP dose limit 

to the public of 10 mrem/yr was not exceeded. The 

Schooner critical receptor station, in the far northwest 

corner of the NTS, had the highest concentrations of 

radioactive air emissions, yet an individual residing at 

this station would experience a dose from air emissions of only 1.9 mrem/yr. This annual dose is 

19 percent of the NESHAP public dose limit. No one 

resides at this location, and the dose at offsite populated locations (12 to 50 miles) from the Schooner 

station would be much lower due to wind dispersion. 

Ingestion – NTS game animals include pronghorn 

antelope, mule deer, chukar, Gambel’s quail, 

mourning doves, cottontail rabbits, and jackrabbits. 

Small game animals from different contaminated NTS 

sites are trapped each year and analyzed for their 

radionuclide content. These results are used to 

construct worst-case scenarios for the dose to hunters 

who might consume these animals if the animals 

moved off the NTS. In 2008, a mourning dove and 

two cottontail rabbits were sampled near the Schooner

Crater. Based on these samples, the highest dose to a 

member of the public was estimated to be 0.47 mrem 

for the person who consumed 20 cottontail rabbits and 

20 doves. 

Direct Exposure – No members of the public are 

expected to receive direct gamma radiation that is 

above background levels as a result of NTS 

operations. Areas accessible to the public, such as the 

main entrance gate, had direct gamma radiation 

exposure rates comparable to natural background rates 

from cosmic and terrestrial radiation. 

Percents of Total Dose to the Public from 

Natural Background Sources and from the NTS

2008 Dose to the Public from All Pathways 

2.37 mrem/yr – This is the maximum dose to the public from inhalation, ingestion, and direct 

exposure pathways that is attributable to NTS operations. It is well below the dose limit of 

100 mrem/yr established by DOE O 5400.5 for radiation exposure to the public from all 

pathways combined. This total dose estimate is indistinguishable from natural background 

radiation experienced by the public residing in communities surrounding the NTS. 

roundwater — there is no NTS radiation 

dose to the public from this pathway. 

Annual monitoring continues to verify that 

no contaminated groundwater has migrated 

beyond the NTS boundaries into 

surrounding water supplies used by the 

public. 

G
12 

Range in Average Concentrations of 

Man-Made Radionuclides in Air Samples on the NTS in 2008

Concentration (10-15 μCi/mL)(a)

Radionuclide Limit(b) Lowest Average Highest Average 

241Am 1.9 -0.00007 0.012 3

H 1,500,000 90 279,870 238Pu 2.1 -0.00075 0.0051 239+240Pu 2.0 0.0016 0.073 

(a) The scale of concentration units for radionuclides shown in the table have been 

standardized to 10-15 microcuries per milliliter (μCi/mL). This scale may differ 

from those reported in detailed radionuclide-specific data tables in the NTSER 

(b) The concentration established by NESHAP as the compliance limit. 

Radioactive Air Emissions 

NTS radioactive emissions are monitored on site to 

determine the public dose from inhalation (shown on 

page 11) and to ensure compliance with NESHAP 

under the Clean Air Act. A network of 19 air 

sampling stations and a network of 109 thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs) are located throughout the 

NTS (see map on page 13), mainly within those 

numbered operational areas where historic nuclear 

testing has occurred or where current radiological 

operations occur. NTS air sampling stations monitor 

tritium in water vapor, man-made radionuclides, and 

gross alpha and beta radioactivity in airborne particulates. The TLD stations monitor direct gamma 

radiation exposure. 

Radioactive emissions are also monitored at stations 

in selected towns and communities within 240 miles 

of the NTS by the independent Community 

Environmental Monitoring Program (CEMP), which 

is coordinated by the Desert Research Institute (DRI) 

of the Nevada System of Higher Education under 

contract with NNSA/NSO. Its purpose is to provide 

monitoring for radionuclides that may be released 

from the NTS. A network of 29 CEMP stations are 

used (see map on page 14). The CEMP stations 

monitor gross alpha and beta radioactivity in 

airborne particulates using low-volume 

particulate air samplers, penetrating gamma 

radiation using TLDs, gamma radiation 

exposure rates using pressurized ion chamber 

(PIC) detectors, and meteorological 

parameters using automated weather 

instrumentation (MET stations). 

Concentration of Man-Made Radionuclides – 

Several man-made radionuclides were detected at 

NTS air sampling stations in 2008: 241Am, 3H, 238Pu, 

and 239+240Pu. None, however, exceeded concentration 

limits established by the Clean Air Act. The highest 

average level of 241Am and 239+240Pu was detected at 

Bunker 9-300 in Area 9, located within an area of 

known soil contamination from past nuclear tests. No 

one station appeared to be consistently higher than the 

rest for 238Pu. The highest average level of tritium was 

detected at Schooner, site of the second-highest yield 

Plowshare cratering experiment on the NTS where 

tritium-infused ejecta surrounds the crater. 

No man-made radionuclides were detected above

minimum detectable concentrations in the air samples 

from the JASPER Facility. A calculated 

0.060 Ci of depleted uranium was 

released during operations at the BEEF. 

No radiological releases occurred at U1a

or DAF. 

No airborne radioactivity related to any 

NTS operations was detected at the 

CEMP stations during 2008. No manmade gamma-emitting radionuclides 

were detected. Naturally occurring 

radioactive beryllium (7

Be) was detected 

in most air particulate samples. 

Estimated Quantity of Man-Made Radionuclides 

Released into the Air from the NTS in 2008 

(in Curies)

Tritium

(

3

H)

Americium 

(

241Am)

Plutonium 

(

238Pu)

Plutonium 

(

239+240Pu)

Depleted 

Uranium 

440 0.047 0.050 0.29 0.060 

Plutonium and americium sources are legacy sites of past nuclear testing on 

the NTS where these radionuclides are in surface soils that can become 

re-suspended by wind. 

Total Quantity of Man-Made Radionuclides – The 

total amounts (measured in Ci) of man-made 

radionuclides that were emitted to the air from all 

sources on the NTS in 2008 was estimated to be 440 Ci 

for tritium, 0.047 Ci for 241Am, 0.050 Ci for 238Pu, 

0.29 Ci for 239+240Pu, and 0.60 Ci for depleted uranium. 

Over the past 10 years, total emissions have ranged 

from 160 to 564 Ci for tritium, 0.039 to 0.049 Ci for 

241Am, and 0.24 to 0.39 Ci for 239+240Pu. Emissions of 

238Pu are estimated to have remained consistent at 

about 0.050 Ci over the same time frame. 
13 

2008 NTS Air Sampling Network
14 

2008 CEMP Air Surveillance Network 

Gamma Radiation Exposure – Ten of the NTS 

TLD stations are located where radiation effects from 

NTS operations are negligible, and therefore measure 

only natural background levels of gamma radiation from cosmic and terrestrial sources. In 2008, the 

mean measured background level from the ten stations 

was 116 milliroentgens per year (mR/yr). This is well 

within average background levels observed in other 

parts of the U.S. of similar elevation above sea level. 

Background radiation varies not only by elevation but 

by the amounts of natural radioactive materials in soil 

and rock in different geographic regions. 

The highest estimated mean annual gamma 

exposure measured at a TLD station on the NTS was 

705 mR/yr at Schooner, one of the legacy Plowshare 

sites on Pahute Mesa. The lowest was 59 mR/yr in 

Mercury at the fitness track. The mean annual gamma 

exposure at 17 TLD locations near the Area 3 and 

Area 5 RWMSs was 138 mR/yr. At the 35 TLD 

locations near known legacy sites (including 

Schooner), it was 253 mR/yr. 

The CEMP offsite TLD and PIC results remained 

consistent with previous years’ background radiation 

levels and are also well within average background 

levels observed in other parts of the U.S. and with the 

116 mR/yr level measured on the NTS. The highest 

total annual gamma 

exposure measured off 

site, based on the PIC 

detectors, was 176 

mR/yr at Warm Springs 

Summit, Nevada (at 

6,290 feet elevation). 

The lowest offsite rate, 

based on the PIC 

detectors, was 73 mR/yr 

at Pahrump, Nevada (at 

2,639 feet elevation). 

2008 NTS Background 

Gamma Radiation 

116 mR/yr – This is the 

background radiation 

measured at 10 TLD 

stations in areas 

isolated from past 

and present nuclear 

activities. 

irect exposure to gamma radiation is 

measured at 109 TLD stations on the NTS. 

Exposure is reported in units called milliroentgens (mR). 

Generally, a 1 mR gamma exposure from the 

most common external radionuclides produces a 

1 mrem dose.

D
15 

Average Background Radiation of Selected U.S. Cities 

(Excluding Radon)

 City 

Elevation Above 

Sea Level (feet) Radiation (mR/yr) 

Denver, CO 5,280 164.6

Wheeling, WV 656 111.9

Rochester, NY 505 88.1

St. Louis, MO 465 87.9

Portland, OR 39 86.7

Los Angeles, CA 292 73.6

Fort Worth, TX 650 68.7

Richmond, VA 210 64.1

Tampa, FL 0 63.7

New Orleans, LA 39 63.7

Source: <http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/cemp/Radiation.html> “Radiation 

in Perspective,” August 1990, as accessed on 4/2/2009

Average Direct Radiation Measured in 2008 

Location 

Elevation Above 

Sea Level (feet) 

Radiation 

Exposure (mR/yr)

NTS - Schooner TLD station 5,660 705 

NTS - 35 Legacy Site TLD stations (includes Schooner) 3,077–5,938 253 

Warm Springs Summit, Nevada CEMP PIC station 7,570 176 

Twin Springs, Nevada PIC station 5,146 170 

NTS - 17 Waste Operation TLD stations 3,176–4,021 138 

NTS - 10 Background TLD stations 2,755–5,938 116 

St. George, Utah PIC station 2,688 83 

Pahrump, Nevada PIC station 2,639 73 

NTS Mercury Fitness Track TLD station 3,769 59 

Nonradioactive Air Emissions 

The release of air pollutants is regulated on the NTS 

under a Class II air quality operating permit. Class II 

permits are issued for “minor” sources where annual 

emissions must not exceed 100 tons of any one criteria 

pollutant or 10 tons of any one of the 189 hazardous air 

pollutants (HAPs), or 25 tons of any combination of 

HAPs. Common sources of such air pollutants on the 

NTS include particulates from construction, aggregate 

production, surface disturbances, fugitive dust from 

driving on unpaved roads, fuel-burning equipment, 

open burning, fuel storage facilities, and chemical 

release tests conducted at the NPTEC on Frenchman 

Flat playa in Area 5. 

An estimated 6.05 tons of criteria air pollutants were 

released on the NTS in 2008. The majority of the 

emissions were nitrogen oxides from diesel 

generators. Total air emissions of lead, also a criteria 

pollutant, was 4.56 pounds (0.002 tons). The quantity 

of HAPS released in 2008 was 0.09 tons. No emission 

limits for any air pollutants were exceeded. 

Estimated Quantity of Pollutants Released into the 

Air from NTS Operations in 2008

Criteria Air Pollutants: Tons 

 Particulate Matter (PM10)(a) 0.22 

 Carbon Monoxide (CO) 0.94 

 Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) 3.36 

 Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) 0.06 

 Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) 0.60 

Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs) 0.09 

Lead 0.002 

(a) Particulate matter equal to or less than 10 microns in 

 diameter 
16 

Offsite Radiological Monitoring of 

Groundwater 

NNSA/NSO’s comprehensive radiological environmental monitoring program includes sampling and 

analysis of groundwater and natural springs off of the 

NTS to determine if groundwater contamination from 

past nuclear testing poses a current threat to public 

health and the environment. In 2008, NSTec conducted radiological monitoring of 10 non-potable 

NNSA/NSO wells drilled for hydrogeologic investigations including groundwater flow modeling. Most 

were in Oasis Valley (ER-OV labeled wells, see map 

on page 17). No offsite springs were sampled in 2008. 

The DRI, through the CEMP, is tasked by NNSA/ NSO 

to provide independent verification of the tritium 

concentrations in some of the offsite groundwater 

wells, municipal water supply systems, and springs 

used for water supplies in areas surrounding the NTS. 

Samples collected by DRI provide a comparison to the 

results obtained by NSTec. In 2008, the CEMP offsite 

water sampling locations included 21 wells, 3 surface 

water supply systems, and 4 springs located in selected 

towns and communities within 240 miles from the NTS 

(see map below). 

NSTec offsite water samples are analyzed for tritium, 

man-made gamma-emitting radionuclides, and gross 

alpha and gross beta radioactivity. Tritium is the sole

radionuclide for which CEMP water sample analyses 

are run. 

2008 CEMP Water Monitoring Locations

20,000 pCi/L – This is the EPA-established 

concentration limit for tritium in drinking 

water. 

All water samples from the offsite springs, wells, and 

surface water supplies monitored by NSTec and the 

CEMP had levels of tritium either below laboratory 

background levels or at very low detectable levels 

(<25 picocuries per liter [pCi/L]). The very low 

detectable levels represent residual tritium persisting in 

the environment that originated from global 

atmospheric nuclear testing. 

No offsite springs or wells contained any man-made 

gamma-emitting radionuclides. 
17 

2008 NSTec Water Monitoring Locations 
18 

Most offsite wells and all offsite spring samples 

contained detectable gross alpha and gross beta 

activity that is most likely from natural sources. All 

levels were less than the U.S. Environmental 

Protection Agency (EPA) limits set for drinking water 

(15 pCi/L for gross alpha and 50 pCi/L for gross 

beta), except Barn Spring. This spring’s measured 

gross alpha activity was 19 ± 2.4 pCi/L. 

Range in Groundwater Tritium Levels 

Measured Off the NTS in 2008

pCi/L

Offsite Supply Wells (CEMP) -0.3 to 5.4 

Offsite Springs/ 

Surface Waters (CEMP) 

-0.8 to 24.1 

Offsite NNSA/NSO 

Monitoring Wells (NSTec) 

-10.8 to 21.9 

Onsite Radiological Monitoring of Groundwater 

Range in Groundwater Tritium Levels 

Measured On the NTS in 2008

pCi/L

Onsite Supply Wells -19.5 to 10.6 

Onsite Monitoring Wells -10.7 to 356* 

*Four onsite monitoring wells had tritium levels 

above MDCs, and all four are within 1 kilometer 

(0.6 miles) of underground nuclear tests. 

Radioactivity in onsite groundwater and surface 

waters of the NTS is monitored annually in order to 

(1) ensure that NTS drinking water is safe, (2) determine if permitted facilities on the NTS are in 

compliance with permit discharge limits for radionuclides, (3) estimate radiological dose to onsite 

wildlife using natural and man-made water sources, 

and (4) determine if groundwater is being protected 

from disposed radioactive wastes at the Area 3 and 

Area 5 RWMSs. In 2008, the onsite water monitoring 

network consisted of 5 potable and 4 non-potable 

water supply wells, 14 monitoring wells, 1 tritiated 

water containment pond system, and 2 sewage 

lagoons (see map on page 17). 

Water Supply Wells – The 2008 data continue to 

indicate that underground nuclear testing has not 

impacted the NTS drinking water supply network. 

None of the onsite water supply wells had detectable 

concentrations (i.e., above minimum detectable 

concentration [MDC]) of tritium or detectable 

concentrations of man-made gamma-emitting 

radionuclides. The gross alpha and gross beta 

radioactivity detected in potable water supply wells 

represent the presence of naturally occurring 

radionuclides and did not exceed EPA drinking water 

limits. 

Monitoring Wells – Some migration of radionuclides from the underground test areas to NTS 

monitoring wells has occurred, although the migration 

distances appear to be very short. Four onsite 

monitoring wells (PM-1, UE-7NS, U-19BH, and 

WW A) had detectable concentrations of tritium in 

2008 ranging from 31 to 356 pCi/L, all well below the 

drinking water limit of 20,000 pCi/L. Each of these 

monitoring wells is located within 0.6 miles of an 

historical underground nuclear test; all have 

consistently had detectable levels of tritium in past 

years, and no trend of rising tritium concentrations in 

these wells has been observed since 2000. The other 

ten monitoring wells had tritium levels below their 

MDCs which ranged from -10.7 to 12.1 pCi/L. 

No man-made radionuclides were detected by gamma 

spectroscopy analyses at concentrations above 

detection limits in any of the monitoring wells in 

2008. All of the 14 monitoring wells had measurable 

gross alpha and gross beta levels, which are likely 

from natural sources. One of the monitoring wells 

(U-19BH) had gross alpha and gross beta activity 

above the EPA limits for drinking water, which is 

likely from man-made radionuclides. 

ffsite groundwater monitoring indicates that there has been no offsite 

migration of man-made radionuclides from underground contamination

 areas on the NTS. 

O 

o drinking water wells on the NTS 

contained detectable tritium or manmade gamma-emitting radionuclides.

N
19 

Containment Ponds – A series of five constructed 

ponds collect and hold water discharged from 

E Tunnel in Area 12 where nuclear testing was 

conducted in the past. The water is perched 

groundwater that has percolated through fractures in 

the tunnel system. Monitoring of the effluent waters 

from E Tunnel is conducted to determine if 

radionuclides or other contaminants exceed the 

allowable contaminant levels regulated under a state 

water pollution control permit. Tritium 

concentrations in tunnel effluent waters in 2008 were 

lower than the permit limit. The E Tunnel 

containment ponds are fenced and posted with 

radiological warning signs. Given that the ponds are 

available to wildlife, game animals are sampled by 

NSTec to assess the potential radiological dose to 

humans via ingestion of game animals exposed to 

these ponds and to evaluate the radiological impacts 

to wildlife. 

Tritiated water is also pumped into lined sumps 

during studies conducted by the Underground Test 

Area (UGTA) Sub-Project. This sub-project’s 

mission is to characterize the groundwater beneath the 

NTS and adjacent lands for the purpose of developing 

analytical models to predict groundwater movement 

and contaminant transport. To do this, suitable wells 

are drilled and existing drill holes are re-completed in 

the vicinity of some underground tests and at other 

locations on the NTS. If the tritium level exceeds 

200,000 pCi/L in water purged from a well during 

drilling, re-completion, or sampling operations, 

contaminated water is pumped from the wells and 

diverted to lined sumps (containment ponds) for 

evaporation, as required by the State. During 2008, 

water containing tritium was pumped from four 

known contaminated drill holes and diverted to lined 

sumps. The highest tritium levels were 21 million 

pCi/L in groundwater samples from the pumped 

drillhole U4u PS #2a. 

Permitted Sewage Lagoons – Two permitted 

sewage lagoons (Area 6 Yucca and Area 23 Mercury) 

were sampled in 2008 and analyzed for tritium, gross 

alpha and beta activity, and gamma-emitting 

radionuclides. As during previous years, none of the 

lagoon samples contained detectable levels of the 

analytes. 

Onsite Nonradiological Monitoring of 

Drinking Water and Wastewater 

NNSA/NSO operates a network of six permitted wells 

that comprise three permitted public water systems on 

the NTS that supply the drinking water needs of NTS 

workers and visitors. NNSA/NSO also hauls potable 

water to work locations at the NTS that are not part of 

a public water system. Monitoring results for 2008 

indicated that water samples from the three public 

water systems and from the potable water hauling 

trucks met the National Primary and Secondary 

Drinking Water Standards. 

Industrial discharges on the NTS are limited to the 

two operating sewage lagoon systems, Area 6 Yucca 

and Area 23 Mercury. Under the conditions of the 

state operating permit, liquid discharges to these 

sewage lagoons were tested quarterly in 2008 for 

biochemical oxygen demand, pH, and total suspended 

solids. Sewage lagoon pond waters were also 

sampled once in 2008 for a suite of toxic chemicals. 

All sewage lagoon water measurements were within 

permit limits. 

The discharge water from the E Tunnel complex is 

sampled annually under the state water pollution 

control permit NEV 96021 for 14 nonradiological 

contaminants, which are mainly metals. In 2008, 

none of the contaminants were detected at levels that 

exceeded permit limits. 

NTS Drinking Water 

The public water systems that supply 

drinking water to NTS workers and 

visitors meet all National Primary and 

Secondary Drinking Water Standards.

2008 Monitoring Results for E Tunnel Effluent 

Waters Pertaining to Water Pollution Control 

Permit NEV 96021

Parameter

Permit 

Limit 

(pCi/L)

Average Measured 

Concentration 

(pCi/L)

Tritium 1,000,000 577,000 

Gross Alpha 35 8.6 

Gross Beta 100 42.3 
20 

Environmental Restoration 

In April 1996, the DOE, U.S. Department of 

Defense, and the State of Nevada entered into an 

FFACO to address the environmental restoration 

of historic contaminated sites at the NTS, parts 

of TTR, parts of the Nevada Test and Training 

Range, the Central Nevada Test Area, and the 

Project Shoal Area. Appendix VI of the 

FFACO, as amended (February 2008), identifies 

a work scope and milestone schedule for the 

cleanup and safe closure of the contaminated 

aboveground sites and for the field 

investigations and model development necessary 

to characterize the underground sites. 

In 2008, 70 contaminated aboveground sites 

were closed safely. These aboveground sites 

consist of facilities and land, and are referred to 

as Industrial Sites. 

The UGTA Sub-Project investigates the areas 

where local or regional groundwater contamination has occurred. These areas have been 

organized into five UGTA CAUs. Hydrogeologic studies use existing data from past 

testing and data obtained from drilling and 

testing newly constructed deep wells and from 

recompleting or rehabilitating existing wells. 

Extensive progress was made in 2008 toward the 

development of hydrologic models describing 

groundwater flow and possible radionuclide 

transport from the UGTA CAUs into ground- Location of UGTA Sub-Project CAUs and model areas 

he most significant environmental work performed by NNSA/NSO each year 

is the cleanup of sites contaminated by past DOE operations and the 

hydrogeological investigations supporting the characterization of underground 

nuclear contamination areas. 

T

water underlying public lands outside the boundaries 

of the NTS. This involved completing the final draft 

of the Phase I Flow and Transport Model and the 

Phase II Corrective Action Investigation Plan for the 

Central and Western Pahute CAUs and completing the 

compilation, analysis, and documentation of all 

hydrologic and transport parameters that will be used 

to build the flow model for the Rainier Mesa/ 

Shoshone Mountain CAU. 

The Central and Western Pahute CAUs Phase I Flow 

and Transport model predicts the migration of tritium 

and carbon-14 off the NTS within 50 years of the first 

nuclear detonation (1966) in the Pahute Mesa-Oasis 

Valley Model Area. It predicts that contamination 

above the Safe Drinking Water Act standard for 

tritium of 20,000 pCi/L should be present off the NTS 

(see figure on next page). However, well sampling 

results have not detected the presence of man-made 

radionuclides downgradient of Pahute Mesa in any of 

the seven UGTA wells on the NTTR. 

A new well drilling campaign will drill nine wells 

during the next three years to gather further data for 

establishment of a long-term monitoring system. The 

UGTA Sub-Project selected 12 proposed locations for 

the new wells. The well drilling campaign began in 

May 2009. Continued well drilling and data 

collection will improve and refine the transport model 

for this area. 
21 

Results of Phase I Central and Western Pahute Mesa transport model 

Pollution Prevention and Waste 

Minimization 

Pollution prevention and waste minimization activities 

on the NTS result in reductions to the volume and/or 

toxicity of waste generated on site. In 2008, a reduction of 295 tons of hazardous wastes was realized. 

The largest proportion of this reduction came from 

shipments of lead acid batteries (115.5 tons), bulk 

used oil (84 tons), and lead scrap metal (80.8 tons) to 

offsite vendors for recycling. 

A reduction of 342.3 tons of solid wastes was realized 

in 2008. The largest proportion of this reduction 

came from shipping 177.1 tons of mixed paper and 

cardboard and 92.6 tons of ferrous scrap metal to a 

vendor for recycling and shipping 49.1 tons of food 

wastes from the NTS cafeterias to a local pig farm. 

Cultural Resources 

DRI archeologists completed archival research and 

field surveys for six proposed NNSA/NSO projects 

on the NTS and the NTTR in 2008. No cultural 

resources eligible to the National Register of Historic 

Places were found during the field surveys. 

The National Historic Preservation Act requires 

federal agencies to identify and maintain the integrity 

of historic properties under their jurisdiction. In 2008, 

15 such properties on the NTS were visited to meet 

this requirement: 5 temporary camps, 3 dual 

component camps (prehistoric and historic), 3 historic 

structures, 1 historic cabin, 1 prehistoric processing 

locality, 1 cave site, and 1 historic residential base. 

Only 2 sites were moderately affected by visitor 

traffic, and the other 13 sites were all in a good state 

of preservation, though sustaining normal weathering.

Other field projects included photo-documentation of 

structures in Areas 3 and 23 and site visits to three 

tower locations in Areas 2 and 3 and four nuclear test 

locations in Areas 18 and 20. Archival research was 

conducted for the historic test locations Russet, 

Raritan, Little Feller II, and T-4. 
22 

Biologists continued to work in cooperation with 

Southern Nevada Health District personnel to 

determine if mosquitoes on the NTS carry West Nile 

Virus. As in previous years, no infected mosquitoes 

were found. 

The Habitat Restoration Monitoring Program 

surveyed seven closed Environmental Restoration 

sites on the TTR and one on the NTS that had been 

revegetated in 1999 or 2000. Plant cover and density 

were higher in 2008 than in previous years, and there 

were no significant declines in the cover or density of 

those perennial shrubs and forbs that had been seeded. 

An annual vegetation survey to determine wildland 

fire hazards was conducted. Roadside areas that had 

the highest risk of wildland fires in 2008 were in 

Areas 29 and 30. 

Chemical release test plans for two activities at 

NPTEC in Area 25 were reviewed. No monitoring of 

of plants or animals downwind of the tests was needed 

due to the low volumes and/or low toxicity of the 

chemicals being released. 

Western burrowing owl with identification bands (Photo 

by W. K. Ostler, June 20, 2007) 

Endangered Species Protection 

The desert tortoise is protected as a threatened species 

under the Endangered Species Act and it occurs in 

suitable habitat on the southern third of the NTS. 

Activities conducted in desert tortoise habitat must 

comply with the terms and conditions of a Biological 

Opinion issued to NNSA/NSO by the U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service. In 2008, biologists conducted 

surveys for 18 projects within the distribution range 

of the desert tortoise. No desert tortoises were 

accidentally injured or killed, nor were any found, 

captured, or displaced from project sites. No desert 

tortoises were accidentally killed along roads in 2008. 

A cumulative total of 311 acres of desert tortoise 

habitat on the NTS has been disturbed since the desert 

tortoise was listed as threatened in 1992. 

Ecological Monitoring

Numerous species, considered by federal and state 

agencies to be sensitive or important to track, are 

known to occur on the NTS and include 19 plants, 

1 mollusk, 2 reptiles, over 250 birds, and 26 mammals.

Biologists continued to monitor some of these species 

in 2008, which included two plant species, western 

red-tailed skinks, western burrowing owls, bats, mule 

deer, and mountain lions. As a result, the documented 

distribution patterns of these species on the NTS have 

been increased, and other species new to the NTS have 

been recorded. Six out of ten recorded bird mortalities 

in 2008 were attributed to NNSA/NSO activities. 

 
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The information presented in this document is explained in greater detail in the Nevada Test Site 

Environmental Report 2008 (DOE/NV/25946--790). A compact disc of this document is included on the back 

inside cover. This document can also be downloaded from the National Nuclear Security Administration 

Nevada Site Office at http://www.nv.doe.gov/library/publications/environmental.aspx.

For more information about the Nevada Test Site’s Environmental Report, contact Pete Sanders at

(702) 295-1037 or sanders@nv.doe.gov. 

This report was prepared for:

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under Contract DE-AC52-06NA25946

by:

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For more information, contact:

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