Safety is the fi rst priority for the Environmental 

Management mission at the U.S. Department of Energy 

(DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration Nevada 

Site Offi ce. In fact, this commitment to safety is integrated at 

DOE sites that generate low-level and mixed low-level waste 

that is permanently disposed at the Nevada Test Site (NTS).

Waste generators are responsible for 

ensuring that waste is packaged and 

transported in a safe and compliant 

manner. These generators and the 

contracted commercial carriers 

must comply with U.S. Department 

of Transportation regulations, NTS 

Waste Acceptance Criteria, and 

other applicable federal, state, and 

local regulations and requirements.

Routing Preferences

Carriers are responsible for selecting transportation 

routes which minimize radiological risk and are in 

accordance with U.S. Department of Transportation 

regulations. The Nevada Site Offi ce makes every effort to 

consider the concerns of stakeholders in areas neighboring the 

NTS. The NTS Waste Acceptance Criteria addresses waste 

transportation and forbids low-level and mixed low-level waste 

shipments across Hoover Dam and through the Las Vegas 

metropolitan area.

In combination with theses requirements, the Nevada Site 

Offi ce has identifi ed preferred routes (see map on reverse side) 

and advises generators to conform to the following guidelines:

• Avoid heavily populated/congested areas in the state of 

Nevada (including the Las Vegas Beltway, I-215)

• Avoid Davis Dam (AZ-68 and NV-163)

• Use the northern route, I-80 (see map on reverse) during 

summer months (May - October)

• Use the southern routes during the winter 

months (November - April), but divide 

shipments between CA-127 and NV-160 

(see map on reverse)

• Direct carrier drivers to complete the mandatory driver 

questionnaire

The Nevada Site Offi ce may suspend generator shipments 

if waste is not transported in compliance with the identifi ed 

requirements and guidelines.

Emergency Response

A Nevada Site Office grant funds emergency 

preparedness activities and resources in 

counties near the NTS. This grant is funded by 

an additional fee charged to generators which is based upon 

the volume of waste disposed. Approximately $7.5 million 

dollars has been distributed to Clark, Elko, Esmeralda, 

Lincoln, Nye and White Pine counties to enhance emergency 

response capabilities.

The Nevada Site Offi ce also strives to accommodate a 

request by the State of California to limit the number of 

shipments that travel along California Highway CA-127 

due to extremely limited and remote emergency response 

capabilities (see blackout dates on reverse).

Carrier: The trucking company which transports radioactive waste from the generator site to the Nevada Test Site.

Generators: U.S. Department of Defense and U.S. Department of Energy Environmental Management sites that generate lowlevel and mixed low-level radioactive waste through cleanup activities.

U.S. Department of Transportation: The federal agency which regulates the packaging and transportation of radioactive 

materials in accordance with Title 49 in the Code of Federal Regulations.

Defi nitions

Transporting Low-Level Waste to the Nevada Test Site 
For information on all Nevada Site Offi ce Environmental Management activities visit: 

www.nv.doe.gov/envmgt

Preferred low-level and mixed low-level waste 

transportation routes to the Nevada Test Site.

2009 Black-Out Dates 

for CA-127

Generators must advise their carriers to 

avoid transporting low-level and mixed 

low-level waste shipments along CA-127 

on the following dates:

Dec. 28, 2008 - Jan. 4, 2009; Jan. 16-19;

Feb. 13-16; Mar. 14-15; Mar. 30-Apr. 19;

Apr. 23-28; May 8-10; May 22-25;

Jul. 3-6; Sep. 4-7; Oct. 9-12;

Oct. 30 - Nov. 1; Nov. 6-11; Nov. 25-29;

Dec. 20 - Jan. 4, 2010

Permitted Shipments

Overweight and/or overwidth 

shipments may require a stateissued permit prior to being 

transported through Nevada or neighboring 

states. In order to ensure these permitted 

shipments are not routed through the Las 

Vegas Valley, carriers must inform the stateissuing Department of Transportation (or the 

Highway Patrol if dictating routing) that the 

cargo is a radioactive shipment en route to 

the NTS and that routing preferences should 

be observed. It is important to note that 

overwidth shipments cannot be transported 

on NV-160.

For more information, please contact:

U.S. Department of Energy 

National Nuclear Security Administration

Nevada Site Offi ce

Offi ce of Public Affairs

P.O. Box 98518

Las Vegas, NV 89193-8518

(702) 295-3521

envmgt@nv.doe.gov

www.nv.doe.gov

Transporting Low-Level Waste to the Nevada Test Site

DOE/NV--990 REV3 • January 2009