AMEM Corner

by Stephen Mellington.........................................................................................................................Page 2

Industrial Sites is Going Remote on the Tonopah Test Range

by Nick Duhe.......................................................................................................................................Pages 3-4

Planning for Partial Closure of Area 5 Disposal Facility Underway

by Steve Hommel................................................................................................................................Page 5-6

Mixed Low-Level Waste Verification Process Improved

by Dona Merritt....................................................................................................................................Pages 7-8

And the New CAB Members Are . . .

by Carla Sanda...................................................................................................................................Pages 9-11

EM Expands its Public Outreach in Rural Nevada

by Chantelle LaGrow..........................................................................................................................Pages 12-14

Project Shoal Drilling Activities Conclude Two Weeks Early

by Chantelle LaGrow..........................................................................................................................Pages 15-16

EM Partner – Stoller-Navarro Joint Venture

by Dona Merritt............................................................................................................................ .......Pages 17-18

Annual Workshop Updates Generators on NTS Disposal Operations

by Steve Hommel................................................................................................................................Page 19

Transuranic Project Cleanup

by Nick Duhe.......................................................................................................................................Page 20

Alpha and Beta and Gamma........Oh No!!

by Carla Sanda...................................................................................................................................Page 21-22

Nevada Test Site Public Tours......................................................................................................Page 23

Contact Information.........................................................................................................................Page 24

Information Request........................................................................................................................Page 25

DOE/NV--1138

Working Today To Protect Your Future

EM UPDATE

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

Fall 2004 edition Summer 2006
DOE/NV--1138 2

EM Update Summer 2006

Stephen Mellington,

Assistant Manager for

Environmental Management

(AMEM)

AMEM Corner

by Stephen Mellington

Now that we are more than halfway through fiscal year 2006, it is

apparent that the Environmental Management Program at the

Nevada Site Office is going to have another successful year of

remediating contaminated sites and disposing of radioactive

waste.

On April 11, the Area 5 Radioactive Waste Management Complex

accepted its first off-site mixed low-level waste shipment since

1990. As previously reported in the EM Update, this is a result of

an agreement between the Nevada Site Office and the State of

Nevada which allows U.S. Department of Energy generators to

dispose no more than 20,000 cubic meters of mixed low-level

waste at the Nevada Test Site through the year 2010.

I am also pleased to announce the Community Advisory Board

(CAB) has submitted a letter to the Nevada Site Office

recommending locations for future wells. This recommendation

comes to us as a result of an offer we made to the CAB to suggest

a well location to help provide additional data to the Underground

Test Area Project. The CAB's recommendation for a well focuses

on the area of Pahute Mesa. We will continue to work with the

CAB in regards to this recommendation and other Environmental

Management projects.

In conclusion, I want to thank all of the Environmental Management

federal and contractor staff at the Nevada Test Site for diligently

working to meet our fiscal year 2006 milestones. Your outstanding

work has led to a safe and productive 2006!
DOE/NV--1138 3

EM Update Summer 2006

Industrial Sites is Going Remote on the Tonopah Test Range

by Nick Duhe

For the safety of workers surveying and characterizing contaminated

locations at the Tonopah Test Range (TTR) the Industrial Sites SubProject has decided to use a remote control vehicle. The vehicle,

called Towbot, looks like a farm combine tractor which has been

outfitted with a Sodium Iodide Array to detect radioactive

contamination and tows geophysical instrumentation which detects

unexploded ordnance (UXO) from historic weapons testing.

Towbot is controlled remotely by a technician who inputs coordinates

via a computer which directs Towbot’s location. A large antenna

mounted on Towbots roof

receives the imputed data and

maneuvers Towbot in a transect

pattern over the designated

area. Front and rear mounted

cameras allow the operator to

visually confirm Towbots path.

The operator, safely back at

base, can manually drive Towbot

using a joystick to avoid any

obstacles.

“In the past, conducting

geophysical and radiological

surveys on the dry lake beds at

the TTR meant using a manned

vehicle carrying and towing the

required equipment,” explained

Kevin Cabble, Industrial Sites

Federal Sub-Project Director.

“That practice came to an end

when safety for the vehicle driver

became an issue due to the

possibility of UXO in some

sections of the lake bed.”

The Towbot came to the Nevada Site Office by way of Zapata

Engineering, which was one of three companies who bid on the

project. After extensive technical reviews by Bechtel Nevada and the

Nevada Site Office the decision was made that the Towbot and Zapata

A transect is a path along

which one records and/or

counts occurrences of the

phenomenon of study. In this

case they are looking for

radioactive contamination

and geophysical anomalies.

It requires an observer to

move along a fixed path and

to count occurrences along

the path and, at the same

time, obtain the distance of

the object from the path. This

results in an estimate of the

area covered, an estimate of

the way in which detectability

drops off from probability 1 to

0 as one moves away from

the path. Using these two

figures one can arrive at an

estimate of the actual density

of objects.

Currently, the NSO uses a 

remote controlled vehicle 

called Towbot equiped with 

a KIWI Sodium Iodide 

Array which tows the

EM-61 Geophysical

instrumentation.

Continued on next page

In the past a worker

driven vehicle equipped

with a KIWI Sodium

Iodide Array towed the

EM-61 Geophysical

instrumentation which

surveyed the area.
DOE/NV--1138 4

EM Update Summer 2006

were a good fit. When asked why Towbot was chosen, Kevin explained, “Based on Towbot’s remote

control capabilities and the fact that Zapata Engineering had previous experience working in UXO

situations, it seemed like a perfect fit.”

The Towbot will be busy at the TTR all summer and into the fall as the is scheduled to be complete the end

of October 2006. More information is available on the Industrial Site fact sheet.

In 1956, the Atomic Energy Commission, predecessor to the U. S. Department of Energy (DOE),

began testing weapons, research rockets, and artillery on the TTR. As a result of these tests,

contaminants were introduced to parts of the range. Some of the contaminants of concern include

UXO and heavy metals, like Depleted Uranium.

Industrial Sites is Going Remote on the Tonopah Test Range

(continued)
DOE/NV--1138 5

EM Update Summer 2006

Planning for Partial Closure of Area 5 Disposal Facility Underway

by Steve Hommel

Efforts have increased to close a 92-acre area at the Area 5

Radioactive Waste Management Complex (RWMC) which represents

approximately 60 percent of the 160 acres currently used for the

storage and permanent disposal of low-level, mixed low-level, and

transuranic waste at the Nevada Test Site (NTS).

In 1961, low-level waste generated by the nuclear testing program at

NTS was first disposed at what eventually became the Area 5 RWMC.

Following the establishment of a formal Waste Management program

at the NTS, the first U.S. Department of Energy off-site generated lowlevel waste shipment was disposed in 1978. More than 30 generators

and nearly 15 million cubic feet later, low-level waste operations have

virtually consumed all available space within existing disposal cells in

the 92-acre area – necessitating its closure.

Closure of the 92 acres

involves placing a

“vegetated, monolayer

evapotranspiration (ET)

cover,” which is soil with

native plants, over the

disposal cells. The

monolayer soil cover

designed to meet the

closure requirement of

DOE Order 435.1 will

provide the equivalent

protection of a standard

Resource Conservation

and Recovery Act

(RCRA) cover, while

offering superior

performance with respect to subsidence. Currently, a 13-foot thick

monolayer soil cover is being proposed.

Because both low-level and mixed low-level disposal cells exist in the

area, each individual cell must meet the requirements of U.S.

Department of Energy Order 435.1 and associated manual M-435.1-1.

Additionally, disposal cells that contain hazardous constituents (such

as mixed low-level waste) are regulated by the NTS RCRA Part B

Permit issued by the State of Nevada Division of Environmental

Protection.

Aerial view of the Area 5

Radioactive Waste

Management Complex. The

dashed line indicates the

92-acre area designated for

closure by the year 2011.

Approximately 730 acres are

designated for radioactive

waste management activities

in Area 5, of which

approximately 160 acres are

currently used for storage

and disposal. Only nine of

the 32 engineered disposal

cells in Area 5 are active,

three of which are within the

area designated for closure

by the year 2011. In general,

disposal activities in Area 5

are conducted by placing

drums and boxes in shallow,

excavated disposal cells

which range from 12 to 48

feet deep. Once delivered to

the pre-designated disposal

cell, waste containers are

carefully stacked and

methodically arranged in a

grid system to facilitate

tracking. Typically, as each

disposal cell fills with waste,

an 8-foot thick layer of native

soil is placed over the waste.

Depending on the specifics of

the low-level waste, additional

soil may be needed.

What is Evapotranspiration?

Evapotranspiration is the process

through which extremely dry air pulls

moisture from plants as well as from

the desert soil. This process

effectively prevents water from

migrating to the groundwater.

Evapotranspiration is critical to

environmental protection in Area 5

since it ensures that any surface water

does not infiltrate waste containers in

disposal cells and transport

contaminants to groundwater.

Continued on next page
DOE/NV--1138 6

EM Update Summer 2006

Planning for Partial Closure of Area 5 Disposal Facility Underway

(continued)

In order to conform to these regulations, a characterization report is being prepared and will be

completed by September 30, 2006. Once this report is accepted by the State of Nevada Division of

Environmental Protection, a closure plan will be prepared. This plan will detail how closure is to occur

and will include engineering drawings of the final closure cover and site drainage. Other information

used to develop the closure plan will be based upon the results of the Area 5 RWMC Performance

Assessment. The objective of this systematic analysis, which uses computer models, is to identify any

potential releases of contamination due to the facility’s geohydrologic disposal system performance

over 1,000 years.

Following permanent closure of the area, maintenance and monitoring will continue to ensure the safety

of the public and the environment.
DOE/NV--1138 7

EM Update Summer 2006

Mixed Low-Level Waste Verification Process Improved

by Dona Merritt

The clock is ticking for mixed low-level waste disposal at the Nevada

Test Site (NTS) and as generators begin to ship, the Nevada Site

Office continues to examine and improve its acceptance

procedures.

As of June 2006, three off-site generators have shipped approved

mixed low-level waste streams to the NTS under the recently

renewed State of Nevada permit. As a result of the lessons learned

from the disposal of this waste, the Nevada Site Office initiated a

review and enhancement of its already rigorous acceptance

process. The review focused on acceptable methods to verify the

contents of mixed low-level waste that has already been treated to

meet Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Land

Disposal Restrictions required by the NTS RCRA Part B Permit.

Approximately 20 percent of the mixed low-level waste Idaho

National Laboratory plans to dispose at the NTS has already been

treated to meet the standards of RCRA Land Disposal Restrictions.

As the off-site generator to submit the largest five-year forecast

projection (and the first to ship to the NTS since 1990), Idaho

National Laboratory’s estimated 9,400 cubic meter volume forecast

will consume nearly half of the available mixed low-level waste

disposal capacity at the NTS (see box to the right). Treatment of this

waste was originally initiated in order to ship to the U.S. Department

of Energy’s disposal site at Hanford, Washington which began

encountering regulatory obstacles that prevents off-site generated

waste from being accepted in the foreseeable future.

Background on the Mixed

Low-Level Waste Permit

Off-site generated mixed

low-level disposal at the

Nevada Test Site became a

reality in December 2005

when the State of Nevada

Division of Environmental

Protection renewed the

Resource Conservation and

Recovery Act (RCRA) Part

B Permit. Although the

permit renewal lifted a

previously issued off-site

generated prohibition, it did

limit the disposal volume to

20,000 cubic meters until

December 2010, whichever

came first.

Because of the time and

volume limit, the Nevada

Site Office has been

working closely with all

generators to ensure this

capability is fully utilized.

The permanent disposal

path created by this

capability is essential to the

overall cleanup of U.S.

Department of Energy sites

across the United States.

Currently, 10 generators

have forecasted the

disposal of approximately

15,000 cubic meters of

mixed low-level waste

during the five-year window

of opportunity. It is

anticipated that the volume

will increase as more sites

Continued on next page

A package containing

mixed low-level waste

is positioned in the

real-time radiography

vault where it will

undergo an x-ray

technology to verify

contents are in

compliance with the

NTS Waste

Acceptance Criteria.

Continued on next page
DOE/NV--1138 8

EM Update Summer 2006

Mixed Low-Level Waste Verification Process Improved

(continued)

To ensure that the mixed low-level waste shipped to the NTS conforms

to the waste acceptance criteria and matches the extensive

documentation which is necessary for waste disposal at the NTS, a

minimum of five percent of each generator’s approved waste stream

must be visually verified. Methods used to visually verify waste include

opening and inspecting waste containers at the generator’s site and

x-raying waste contents using real-time radiography at the NTS.

Because the physical form (i.e., concrete monolith) of some treated

waste inhibits the effectiveness of these processes, the Nevada Site

Office worked with the State of Nevada Division of Environmental

Protection to modify the Waste Analysis Plan (a condition of the NTS

RCRA Part B Permit) to allow historic photos and videos as an

acceptable method to visually verify the waste. The photos and/or

videos could potentially provide a visual record of the individual

components that comprised the mixed low-level waste stream at the

point of generation and/or prior to treatment.

In addition to the visual inspections methods previously mentioned,

the Radioactive Waste Acceptance Program team also requires that

a minimum of 10 percent of the visually verified mixed low-level waste

stream be validated through chemical screening. Chemical screening

is the process by which a portion of the mixed low-level waste stream

is tested in a laboratory under the guidelines set forth by the Waste

Analysis Plan. The objective of all verification processes is to

maintain the Nevada Site Office’s commitments to the State of

Nevada and its stakeholders by ensuring mixed low-level waste

disposal at the NTS is performed safely and efficiently while

protecting the environment, the public, and the workers.

complete the

characterization of legacy

waste stored and

generated by

environmental restoration

activities.

The Mixed Low-Level

Waste Acceptance

Guidelines fact sheet

provides additional

information and is

available on the Nevada

Site Office website.

Did You Know?

All generators must undergo a rigorous and detailed inspection

of their waste characterization and certification program before

the Nevada Site Office will grant it an approved status. In

addition, each generator’s individual low-level and mixed lowlevel waste streams must be reviewed for compliance to

Nevada Test Site Waste Acceptance Criteria prior to shipment

and disposal at the Nevada Test Site. Visit the Waste

Management webpage to learn more about the Nevada Site

Office Radioactive Waste Acceptance Program.
DOE/NV--1138 9

EM Update Summer 2006

And The New CAB Members Are . . .

by Kelly Snyder

What do an attorney, a nurse, and a physicist have in common? They

are among the 12 newly appointed members of the Community

Advisory Board for Nevada Test Site Programs (CAB).

The CAB spent approximately three months conducting membership

activities which included advertising vacancies, reviewing

applications, interviewing candidates, and selecting the new slate of

members. After the CAB completed their membership drive, a formal

letter was sent to the U.S. Department of Energy Headquarters

recommending membership to the selected candidates. The

Assistant Secretary for Environmental Management approved the new

members in June 2006.

In addition to the members, a new liaison position from the U.S.

National Park Service was created. Liaison members, while not voting

members, participate in CAB deliberations and contribute their

institutional views. Other liaison members include: the State of

Nevada; Nye County, Nevada; the Defense Threat Reduction Agency;

and the U.S. Department of Energy Nevada Site Office's

Environmental Management program.

Take a moment and get to know more about the new CAB members!

Bill Aldrich – Pahrump, Nevada

Upon retiring from the Air Force after 20 years of service, Mr. Aldrich

worked as a contractor to the U.S. Department of Defense for base

support, manufacturing and overhaul contracts. He has extensive

knowledge of the Federal Acquisition Regulations, proposal

preparation, and union negotiations.

Paul Adras – Las Vegas, Nevada

Mr. Adras is an attorney focusing on construction law and insurance

defense. Previously, he worked for the Nevada Division of

Environmental Protection, where he supervised the Division’s

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act compliance and

enforcement program.

Robert Johnson – Beatty, Nevada

Mr. Johnson works for ESRI, a company specializing in Geographic

Information Systems, as a Defense Account Manager, serving

customers throughout the western United States and Asia/Pacific

regions.

What is a liaison

member?

Liaison members, while

not voting members,

participate in CAB

deliberations and

contribute their

institutional views by

behalf of the organization

they are representing.

Continued on next page
DOE/NV--1138 10

EM Update Summer 2006

And The New CAB Members Are . . .

(continued)

Vernell McNeal – Las Vegas, Nevada

Mr. McNeal, a former U.S Marine, is an Assistant Manager for Walgreen Pharmacies. He serves as a

member of the American Red Cross Disaster Action Team and as a Traffic and Parking Commissioner for

the City of Las Vegas.

Ted Oom – Pahrump, Nevada

Prior to his retirement from The Boeing Company, Mr. Oom worked as an aerospace division engineer

and engineering manager focusing on numerous projects, including the Minuteman missile system, the

Supersonic Transport, the B-1 bomber, and Mobile Minuteman programs. He is also a U.S. Air Force

veteran.

Warren Pawliuk – Pahrump, Nevada

Mr. Pawliuk, a registered nurse for 24 years, currently serves as an Air Force Reservist with 28 years of

service. He currently serves as the secretary of the Pahrump Emergency Management and Homeland

Security Advisory Board and is also a volunteer firefighter with the Crystal, Nevada Volunteer Fire

Department.

Dr. David Rosin – Las Vegas, Nevada

Dr. Rosin is the State Medical Director for the Nevada Department of Mental Health and Developmental

Disabilities. Prior to moving to Nevada, he directed a non-governmental organization Emergency Medical

Strike Force in Africa following the genocide in Rwanda/Zaire.

Jan Spinato – Henderson, Nevada

Ms. Spinato is a licensed mortgage loan officer. Prior to moving to Nevada, she lived in Pennsylvania

where she devoted more than twenty years to the fields of education and public relations. She is also a

member of the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce.

Stacy Standley – Las Vegas, Nevada

Mr. Standley is an advisor to the Aspen Institute-India. He was director of the Worldwide Fund for Nature

Living Planet Campaign. As President of Earth Voices, he produced the summary of the 1992 Earth

Summit. He served three terms as Mayor of Aspen, Colorado and was a director of the Aspen Center for

Environmental Studies.

Harold Sullivan – Las Vegas, Nevada

Mr. Sullivan is a U.S. Army veteran who is pursuing a degree in Elementary Education at Sierra Nevada

University.

James Weeks – Beatty, Nevada

Mr. Weeks is currently employed by the Beatty Water and Sanitation District. He has been the District

Manager since 1990. Mr. Weeks has served on the Board of Directors of the Nevada Rural Water

Association for nine years, as well as on the Board of Directors of Beatty Health and Welfare for fifteen

years.

Continued on next page
DOE/NV--1138 11

EM Update Summer 2006

(Continued on next page)

And The New CAB Members Are . . .

(continued)

Dr. Walter Wegst – Las Vegas, Nevada

Dr. Wegst is a health physicist with more than 35 years of experience in the radiation protection field,

including more than 22 years spent managing comprehensive environmental, safety, and health

programs at the California Institute of Technology and the University of California, Los Angeles.
DOE/NV--1138 12

EM Update Summer 2006

Central Nevada Test Area and

Project Shoal poster on

following two pages.

The public is invited to visit the

display at the Central Nevada

Museum located at 1900

Logan Field Road, Tonopah,

Nevada. The museum is

open from 10:00 am – 5:00

pm Wednesday through

Sunday. The museum closes

for lunch from 1:00 pm – 2:00

pm. Admission into the

museum is free while

donations are welcome. Click

Central Nevada Museum for

more information.

Library guests are

encouraged to visit the display

at the Churchill County Library

located at 553 S. Maine Street,

Fallon, Nevada. The library is

open Monday, Thursday, and

Friday from 9:00 am – 6:00

pm, Tuesday and Wednesday

from 9:00 am – 8:00 pm,

Saturday from 9:00 am – 5:00

pm, and is closed on Sundays

and State and Federal

holidays. Click Churchill

County Library for more

information.

by Chantelle LaGrow

This summer, two newly created displays have been given to the

Central Nevada Museum and the Churchill County Library to

provide the public with the opportunity to learn about the historic

nuclear testing and current remediation activities conducted by the

U.S. Department of Energy in Nevada.

The Central Nevada Museum in Tonopah, Nevada is hosting the

Central Nevada Test Area display produced by the U.S.

Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration

Nevada Site Office. The display depicts historic testing,

remediation, monitoring, and stewardship activities. In addition to

this new information source, the museum also offers patrons other

U.S. Department of Energy displays including Radioactive Waste

Disposal at the NTS in Historical Perspective, Groundwater at the

NTS, and the NTS Area 5 Radioactive Waste Management Site

three-dimensional model.

“[The displays] provide great information to our visitors and quite a

few people spend extra time in that area of our museum,”

according to Eva LaRue, the Central Nevada Museum Assistant

Curator. “I have overheard visitors talking about the displays and I

believe it is a great opportunity for not only tourists, but locals as

well, to have a better understanding of some of the activities at [the]

NTS. Many visitors to our museum are interested in the NTS and

Yucca Mountain, while many others have no knowledge of either

one.”

Interested members of the public can also view a new display

focusing on the Project Shoal area by visiting the Churchill County

Library in Fallon, Nevada. The Shoal display provides an overview

of historic testing activities that were conducted near Fallon.

Display viewers will also learn about specific remediation,

monitoring and stewardship activities conducted by the U.S.

Department of Energy.

“It seems to be received well by the library visitors,” said Barbara

Mathews, the Churchill County Library Director. “People have

shown interest in the display, many of the library employees have

seen people stop and read the poster.

For more information on the Central Nevada Test Area and Project

Shoal as well as other outreach material, visit

http://www.nv.doe.gov.

Environmental Management Expands its Public Outreach in Rural Nevada
DOE/NV--1138 13

EM Update Summer 2006Central Nevada Test Area poster on display at the Central Nevada Museum.
DOE/NV--1138 14

EM Update Summer 2006Project Shoal Area poster on display at the Churchill County Library
DOE/NV--1138 15

EM Update Summer 2006

by Chantelle LaGrow

After nearly three months of hard work and determination, drilling

activities at Project Shoal came to a close on June 16 with no

accidents, under budget, and two weeks ahead of schedule.

In March, Stoller-Navarro Joint Venture (SNJV), a contractor for

the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), National Nuclear Security

Administration Nevada Site Office (NSO) headed north to the

Project Shoal Area near Fallon, Nevada to prepare for drilling

what is believed to be the final three wells at the site. Following

the successful completion of a safety walk-down, drilling

commenced and the first well was completed on May 5. Less

than 90 days later, all three wells had been drilled, installed, and

developed. Now that drilling is complete, the Desert Research

Institute will conduct hydrologic testing and monitoring.

The wells, which vary in depth from 1,670 to 2,020 feet, were

drilled to support ongoing hydrogeologic investigation and

monitoring activities at the site where a 1963 underground

nuclear test was conducted by the U.S. Atomic Energy

Commission. As part of the Federal Facility Agreement and

Consent Order (FFACO) between the NSO and the State of

Nevada, completion of the monitoring/validation (MV) wells will

facilitate a five-year proof-of-concept period meant to validate the

predictions of the groundwater model NSO submitted to the

Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP) in 2003.

The DOE Office of Legacy Management is scheduled to assume

responsibility of the site on October 1, 2006 and will continue to

monitor the wells for a period of five years collecting geologic,

geophysical and hydrologic data.

Current well drilling and monitoring activities at Project Shoal are

not the only environmental activities conducted at the site. In

1996, the NSO began environmental restoration activities at

Project Shoal to investigate potential environmental impacts from

previous testing. In accordance with the FFACO, which outlined

the investigation and cleanup strategy, the surface and

subsurface areas at Shoal are considered separately. Thus, for

the surface, NSO conducted characterization activities and

determined that hydrocarbons deposited into a mud pit during

drilling activities, remained in the soil. In 1997, the NSO removed

and transported the contaminated material off-site to a

Continued on next page

The Project Shoal Area is

located in Northern

Nevada – approximately

30 miles southeast of

Fallon, in Churchill County.

Shoal was part of the Vela

Uniform Program, which

was conducted to improve

the United States’ ability to

detect, identify, and locate

underground nuclear

detonations. The test

detonated a 12-kiloton

nuclear device at a depth

of 1,204 ft below ground

surface in granitic rock to

determine whether seismic

waves produced by an

underground nuclear test

could be differentiated

from seismic waves

produced by a naturally

occurring earthquake. The

test was a joint effort

conducted by the U.S.

Atomic Energy

Commission (predecessor

to the DOE) and the DoD

in October 1963.

Project Shoal Drilling Activities Conclude Two Weeks Early
DOE/NV--1138 16

EM Update Summer 2006

Project Shoal Drilling Activities Conclude Two Weeks Early

(continued)

designated disposal facility at the Nevada Test Site. The NDEP approved the surface as “clean closed”

in 1998.

Subsurface characterization also began in 1996 and it was determined that the subsurface source of

contamination in the test cavity included radioactive fission products, uranium, plutonium, and tritium. The

NSO installed four wells at the site to better understand the area groundwater system and to determine

the potential migration paths of radionuclides that were introduced during the underground nuclear test.

Sampling data from these wells was used to design a Flow and Transport model - a predictive tool

indicating future movement of contamination through time.

Four additional wells were drilled in 1999 when preliminary model results indicated a need for further

data. The additional data collected was used in producing the 2003 groundwater model.

The U.S. Department of the Interior – Bureau of Land Management maintains ownership of the site and a

land withdrawal allows DOE and the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to manage the site. DOE

maintains control over the subsurface at the Shoal site and has placed restrictions on the subsurface,

including the use of groundwater. While the Shoal surface may be considered safe for unrestricted use,

public access may still be restricted under the DoD land withdrawal.
DOE/NV--1138 17

EM Update Summer 2006

EM Partner – Stoller-Navarro Joint Venture

by Dona Merritt

One of the key players behind the Nevada Site Office’s mission

of completing Environmental Restoration activities at the Nevada

Test Site is the Stoller-Navarro Joint Venture (SNJV). But what

exactly does SNJV do?!

Years of nuclear research, development, and testing left behind a

legacy of environmental damage and contamination on the NTS.

As a Nevada Site Office contractor, SNJV is responsible for

assisting the U.S. Department of Energy in identifying the nature

and extent of the contamination, determining the risk to the public

and the environment, and acting to protect or restore natural

resources adversely affected by historical activities at the

Nevada Test Site (NTS).

The SNJV Preliminary Assessments team researches historical

documents and contaminant release information, and travels to

the NTS to record current conditions for each location affected.

Preliminary Assessment findings are then provided to the

Industrial Sites team to best prepare for the next step of the

remediation process.

It is the responsibility of SNJV Industrial Sites workers to continue

site characterization by traveling to the individual sites located on

the NTS to gather additional information. This information may

be in the form of soil samples, photographs, or other information

which could aid in the development of corrective action

alternatives. An analysis of these items leads to

recommendations which are then provided to the Nevada

Division of Environmental Protection and other NSO staff and

contractors who work together to determine the future of each

location.

In addition to NTS surface contamination, concerns about the

potential for groundwater contamination provide SNJV staff

another challenge to tackle – developing a groundwater model

for the Underground Test Area (UGTA) Sub-Project. In addition to

supporting the acquisition of samples and data through well

drilling activities, SNJV UGTA personnel are developing an

extensive computer model that depicts where and how the

groundwater system beneath the NTS functions. This is

accomplished by inserting historical factors, such as the location,

depth, and estimated radionuclides remaining from the 828

Continued on next page

A team of experienced

companies comprise the

Stoller-Navarro Joint

Venture (SNJV), which

took over as the

Architectural and

Engineering contractor for

the Nevada Site Office

Environmental

Management program in

October 2003. SNJV

partners, S.M. Stoller

Corporation and Navarro

Research and Engineering

along with key subcontract

partners Battelle Memorial

Institute, Intera, and

Weston Solutions, each

bring their unique technical

expertise to the contract

along with an abundance

of diverse resources.

Additional information on

SNJV’s five-year contract

can be obtained by visiting

the Nevada Site Office

website.
DOE/NV--1138 18

EM Update Summer 2006

EM Partner – Stoller-Navarro Joint Venture

(continued)

underground nuclear tests conducted at the NTS and other information gathered through investigations

such as sampling. SNJV UGTA modelers can then predict how quickly and to where groundwater is

flowing and the potential for the migration of contaminants

The NTS is not the only area that SNJV is responsible for investigating. During the 1960’s and 1970’s,

nuclear tests were conducted at various locations across the United States. SNJV’s responsibilities

include completing surface remediation and drilling monitoring wells at eight of these sites, which are

located in Alaska, Colorado, Mississippi, New Mexico and Nevada. The recently completed wells at the

Project Shoal Area in Central Nevada and completion of a cap inspection and repairs on Amchitka Island,

Alaska are fine examples of the successful teamwork SNJV puts forth in all endeavors.

And teamwork is truly the key to the success of the NSO Environmental Management mission. Not only

must SNJV work well with federal project leads and other contractors, but internally as well. SNJV’s

Program Integration team is the glue that holds the pieces together through the monitoring of regulatory

drivers, communications, and planning efforts.

Each day, more than 100 SNJV team members perform essential Environmental Restoration mission

activities with dedication and safety in mind. Program Manager Dave Taylor is proud of the quality work

and commitment each employee puts forth. In fact, he believes that it is essential in order “to be the

company and employer of choice for environmental services to the NSO.”
DOE/NV--1138 19

EM Update Summer 2006

by Steve Hommel

As a way to ensure U.S. Department of Energy waste generator

sites have the opportunity to share lessons learned, the Nevada

Site Office hosted their annual Nevada Test Site Low-Level and

Mixed Low-Level Waste Generator Workshop from April 24-27.

The annual event, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy,

National Nuclear Security Administration Nevada Site Office

(NNSA/NSO), welcomed approximately 120 participants from

around the country to Las Vegas.

Participants included representatives from approved and candidate

low-level and mixed low-level radioactive waste generating sites

across the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) complex. In addition

to these participants, staff from DOE’s Environmental Management

Headquarters and the State of Nevada Division of Environmental

Protection also attended the four-day workshop. Activities included

briefings by NSO Environmental Management staff, networking

sessions to share information, and tours of Yucca Mountain and the

Nevada Test Site (NTS).

Many generators expressed an interest in learning more about the

acceptance of mixed low-level waste (MLLW) to the NTS. In

December of 2005, the State of Nevada Division of Environmental

Protection (NDEP) reissued the NTS Part B Permit which lifted the

prohibition on accepting DOE MLLW generated outside the state of

Nevada. In accordance with the Permit, the NSO is limited to

accepting no more than 20,000 cubic meters of MLLW and to

permanently close the NTS Mixed Waste Disposal Unit by

December 2010. The first off-site DOE MLLW shipment in 16

years was accepted from Idaho National Laboratory two weeks

before the Generator Workshop.

One of the most anticipated presentation topics was the Nevada

Test Site Waste Acceptance Criteria (NTSWAC) update, which

went into effect in December 2005. A briefing was also provided on

Revision 6 of the NTSWAC which outlines the requirements all

generators must follow in order to ship their waste to the NTS and

addresses many of the questions posed by generators during the

previous year’s workshop. Compliance with the criteria described

in the document is verified regularly by the Radioactive Waste

Acceptance Program team.

Next year's workshop is currently scheduled for the week of

April 23, 2007.

Workshop participants

listen as Christine Gelles

briefs them on U.S.

Department of Energy’s

Environmental Management

Program disposition efforts.

Workshop participants take

a moment to network during

a break between sessions.

Annual Workshop Updates Generators on NTS Disposal Operations
DOE/NV--1138 20

EM Update Summer 2006

by Nick Duhe

As the Transuranic (TRU) Waste Sub-Project gets closer to

completion, the focus is shifting toward cleaning up the glovebox and

associated space which was radioactively contaminated during

characterization activities.

The glovebox, a sealed piece of equipment which allows the handling

of waste without direct contact, and the Secondary Confinement

Structure (SCS), a closed, secure environment in which the glovebox

is located, are both housed within the Visual Examination and

Repackaging Building (VERB) at the Area 5 Radioactive Waste

Management Complex. Since the TRU Waste Sub-Project is

anticipated to be completed by September 2007, there is no future

use identified for the glovebox. Therefore, the glovebox is scheduled

for dismantlement and disposal at a U.S. Department of Energy

facility. However, since options are still being considered for the future

uses of the VERB, the SCS will be decontaminated and left in place.

In order to achieve these objectives, waste handlers have commenced

a process to identify, remove, and package potential radiological

hazards from the glovebox. It is anticipated that the waste generated

from these activities will be characterized as low-level and disposed

on-site.

Once the initial cleanup of the glovebox is complete, the interior will be

filled with a specialized foam that will minimize the release of airborne contaminants during dismantlement.

Following the dismantlement and removal of the glovebox, SCS decontamination activities will begin.

Prior to and throughout both processes, radiological surveys are conducted to focus and identify the level

of effort required to complete cleanup.

Cleanup activities, which began mid-July, are scheduled for completion September 30, 2006. Please visit

the TRU webpage for more information on TRU waste activities at the NTS.

Transuranic Waste Project Cleanup

The glovebox is constructed

of stainless steel with doublepane, laminated safety-glass

windows. It was designed to

maintain negative pressure

(required to prevent airborne

radiological releases) relative

to the Secondary

Confinement Structure in

which it is located.

Since 1966 the single-story sheet metal building now known as the Visual Examination and

Repackaging Building (VERB) has been in use at the Nevada Test Site. Relocation and

refurbishing of the building was completed in 1997 to include the addition of the glovebox. The

glovebox was used for opening, examining, and repackaging drums containing transuranic waste as

part of the characterization process. All transuranic waste must be characterized and certified in

order to be shipped to the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in Carlsbad, New Mexico for permanent

disposal.

Through previous routine radiological surveys, inspections and process knowledge, it is known that

the interior of the glovebox is highly contaminated from the repackaging of approximately 1,000 TRU

waste drums. Since these drums were managed in a dedicated area of the VERB’s Secondary

Confinement Structure, it was posted as a contamination area, though most loose contamination

found was regularly cleaned up.
DOE/NV--1138 21

EM Update Summer 2006

Alpha and Beta and Gamma........Oh No!!

by Carla Sanda

That title pretty much sums up the perspective of most stakeholders when dealing with the subject of

radiation. Imagine, then, the daunting task of putting together a meaningful way to work with stakeholders

across the country to address not only the issue of radiation – but the further complication of dealing with

large areas of radioactive contamination that must be identified and remediated. Yet that is exactly what

the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has been dedicated to since formalizing its national Environmental

Management Program in 1989.

The story actually begins back in the early 1940s when the nation was in the midst of World War II.

Leading scientists converged on facilities throughout the country to harness the power of the atom –

nuclear reactors were designed and built, complicated experiments were conducted, and the United

States developed an atomic weapon that would eventually help end the war. Shortly after World War II,

relations between the United States and the former Soviet Union seriously deteriorated, and the Cold War

ensued. As a result, the nuclear arms race was on! Sixteen federal facilities located throughout the

country - including the states of Washington, California, Idaho, New Mexico, Texas, Kentucky, South

Carolina, Florida, Colorado, Ohio, and Nevada – comprised a vast research, production, and testing

network now known as the nuclear weapons complex. Tens of thousands of nuclear warheads were

manufactured, and more than 1,000 were detonated in the atmosphere and underground.

Needless to say, due to national security concerns, much of the work conducted throughout the DOE

complex was shrouded in secrecy. As a result, when DOE announced its plans for cleanup, concern was

voiced by citizens – particularly those living near DOE facilities. Public meetings were held, local news

channels focused on concerns related to the legacy remaining from the cold war, and a great deal of fear

and mistrust rose to the forefront. It was clear that a major effort was needed to provide communities with

factual information, education, and a mechanism to become involved in the complicated road that lay

ahead.

While pursuing its environmental management mission objectives, DOE began to understand the

importance of involving the public and understanding the concerns and priorities of citizens living near its

facilities targeted for cleanup., In order to

achieve the ultimate goal of bringing

stakeholders to the table early in the

process to gain knowledge and

understanding of the environmental

management problems and proposed

solutions, major funding was provided to

organize nationally chartered SiteSpecific Advisory Boards (SSABs) at key

DOE facilities throughout the country

under the Federal Advisory Committee

Act. The SSABs work together with DOE

Continued on next page
DOE/NV--1138 22

EM Update Summer 2006

Alpha and Beta and Gamma........Oh No!!

(continued)

to provide stakeholder feedback on a broad spectrum of proposed environmental restoration activities at

their respective sites.

Through most of fiscal year 2006, nine SSABs will continue at facilities in the states of Washington,

Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Kentucky, Ohio, and Tennessee. However, with the

closure of both the Rocky Flats and Fernald facilities this year, seven SSABs will continue to operate in

fiscal year 2007. Since their formation, SSABs (including the Community Advisory Board

for Nevada Test Site Programs) have weighed in on nearly every aspect of DOE’s environmental

management and restoration activities, to include everything from prioritizing cleanup schedules to

discussions related to specific technologies that may be considered. Not only has this resulted in timely

stakeholder feedback, but also has resulted in changes to proposed activities that have saved taxpayers

hundreds of millions of dollars.

DOE also funds and convenes two national SSAB Chairs meetings each year. Representatives of each

of the Boards are encouraged to provide insights into their Board’s activities, describe their involvement

at their respective site as well as the feedback they receive from their site’s DOE liaisons, and discuss

any problems or challenges that they may be addressing. These national meetings provide the Boards an

opportunity to learn from one another, while providing a unique opportunity for DOE to assess the program

to ensure that the Boards are receiving the support they need to remain involved and productive.

The DOE has committed millions of dollars to this effort and tens of thousands of hours working with

stakeholders around the country to ensure that environmental management activities are conducted with

an open, honest approach and sincere consideration of local community values. Sites are being cleaned

up and closed, and work continues with stakeholders to develop and design programs for long-term

stewardship activities.

The bottom line is this: stakeholder involvement can be a difficult, costly road to build and navigate;

however, the ongoing success of DOE’s approach to public participation has paved the way for

stakeholders to be a part of the answer to solving the management and cleanup of complex environmental

issues taking place within or near their communities.
DOE/NV--1138 23

EM Update Summer 2006

August 29, 2006

September 13, 2006

October 25, 2006

November 29, 2006

Tour participants will visit historic nuclear test locations, such as Sedan Crater, as well as observe areas

where work activities are currently taking place, like the Radioactive Waste Management Complex. The

tour covers approximately 250 miles. Call (702) 295-0944 for more information.

Nevada Test Site Public Tours

2006 Schedule

Radiocative Waste

Management Complex

Sedan Cater

Railroad Bridge

Apple II House
DOE/NV--1138 24

EM Update Summer 2006

Questions should be directed to:

Office of Public Affairs

702-295-3521

U.S. Department of Energy

National Nuclear Security Administration

Nevada Site Office

Office of Environmental Management

P.O. Box 98518

Las Vegas, NV 89193-8518

EM Update is published by:

Office of Environmental Management

Nevada Site Office

Editor:

Kelly Snyder

Layout:

Nick Duhe
DOE/NV--1138 25

EM Update Summer 2006

To request information on Environmental Management

activities, including the CAB, e-mail your request

envmgt@nv.doe.gov.

Include your name, address, phone number

and information request.

If you would like to be added to the Environmental

Management mailing list and receive electronic news

regarding Environmental Management activities please email

us at envmgt@nv.doe.gov.