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Final Environmental Impact Statement for Nevada Test Site

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Final Environmental Impact Statement for Nevada Test Site NEVADA TEST SITE Nye County, Nevada Energy Research & Development Administration SEPTEMBER 1977 Available from: National Technical Information Service (NTIS) U.S. Department of Commerce 5285 Port Royal Road Springfield, Virginia 22161 Price: Printed Copy: $9.00 Microfiche: $9.00 ERDA- UC 2.11 Final Environmental Impact Statement NEVADA TEST SITE Nye County, Nevada Energy Research & Development Responsible Official Administration James L Uverman Assistant Administrator for Environment and Safety TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. SUMMARY II. BACKGROUND A. Need for Nuclear Weapons Testing B. Location C. Historical Background of NTS Area 1. Pre-1951 2. Selection of NTS 3. Post-1951 0. The Existing Environment 1. Surrounding Environs a. Population Distribution b. Anticipated Population Growth c. Land Use of NTS Environs d. Industrial Complexes e. Recreational Areas f. Airspace Control g. Air Transportation h. Highways i. Railroads 2. Topography 3. Climate and Meteorology 4. Geology 5. Hydrology 6. Ground Motion and Structural Response 7. Natural and Stimulated Seismicity 8. Radiologic Environment a. Onsite Radioactivity b. Safety Tests c. Ecological Studies of Plutonium and Other Radionuclides d. Radioactive Wastes 2-99 e. Offsite Radioactivity 9. Bioenvironment 10. Archaeological and Historical Values 11. Onsite Facilities 12. Safeguards and Security 13. Economy and Work Force 14. Public Information III DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED ACTIVITY A. Underground Nuclear Testing 1. General Description of Testing 2. Areas Used (Land Use) 3. Normal Operations a. Review and Survey Panels b. Approval Authorities c. Safety Precautions d. Meteorological Methods e. Postevent Activities 4. Emergency Procedures B. Other Activities at the Nevada Test Site I. High-Explosive Tests 2. The Cane Spring Test Range (CSTR) 3. Experiments at the NTS Farm 4. Activities in Area 27 5. Nuclear Accident Response Tests 6. Lasers 7. Gas Core Reactor Tests 8. Commercial Radioactive Waste Disposal Experiments 9. Spent Unreprocessed Fuel Storage Experiments 10. CETO Program C. Active Considerations 1. Interim Storage of High-Level Commercial Radioactive Waste 2. Seafarer 3. Solar Energy Research Facility O ER S AL {COUL D NOT BE C NV TED TO EAR CHB E TEXT] 7. Gas Core Reactor Tests 8. Radioactive Waste Disposal Experiments (Commercial) 4-46 9. Spent Unreprocessed Fuel Storage Experiments 4-46 10. CETP Program 4-47 V. PROBABLE ADVERSE ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS WHICH CANNOT BE AVOIDED 5-l VI. ALTERNATIVES 6-1 VII. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LOCAL SHORT-TERM USE OF MAN'S ENVIRONMENT AND MAINTENANCE AND ENHANCEMENT OF LONG-TERM PRODUCTIVITY 7-1 VIII. RELATIONSHIP OF PROPOSED ACTION TO LAND USE PLANS, POLICIES AND CONTROLS 8-1 IX. IRREVERSIBLE AND IRRETRIEVABLE COMMITMENTS OF RESOURCES 9-1 X. ENVIRONMENTAL TRADE-OFF ANALYSIS 10-1 Appendix A GLOSSARY OF TERMS A-1 Appendix 3 REFERENCES B-1 Appendix C COMMENT LETTERS AND STAFF RESPONSES C-1 1-1 SECTION I SUMMARY A. SCOPE This environmental statement has been prepared by the Energy Research and Development Administration (ERDA) in accordance with the requirements of Title 10, Part 711, of the Code of Federal Regulations which prescribes the procedures to be followed for implementation of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. The Treaty on the Limitation of Underground Nuclear Weapon Tests, commonly known as the Threshold Test Ban Treaty, and its companion Treaty on Underground Nuclear Explosions for Peaceful Purposes have been signed and introduced to the U.S. Senate for ratification. These treaties limit individual underground nuclear tests to 150 KT. In the interim, pending their entry into force, the United States has announced its intention to abide by the yield limits of the treaties. However, the capability to conduct larger nuclear tests at the Nevada Test Site (NTS) remains unchanged. As has been done in the preparation of environmental statements in the past for the testing activities at the Nevada Test Site (References 1, 2, 3, and 4), this environmental statement considers underground nuclear detonations with yields of one megaton or less, along with the preparations necessary for such detonations. The testing activities considered also include other continuing and intermittent activities, both nuclear and nonnuclear, which can best be conducted in the remote and controlled area of the Nevada Test Site. Specifically, this environmental statement does not include consideration of: Nuclear detonations for excavation purposes, Underground nuclear detonations planned above one megaton in yield, or Nuclear detonations conducted away from the Nevada Test Site. Tests in these three categories will be covered by separate environmental impact assessments or statements if and when such activities are contemplated. 1-2 I. SUMMARY (Cont.) In addition, geologic formations at the Nevada Test Site are being studied for possible use in the ERDA program for management of commercially generated high-level radioactive wastes. If the Nevada Test Site is selected as a storage site, a separate site-specific environmental statement will be prepared for that activity. The ongoing activities as described in this statement are quite similar to those described in past environmental statements, and it is not expected that the future activities at the Nevada Test Site will differ substantially in nature or degree. This environmental statement is intended to provide for the continuation of these activities in future years until there is some significant change in the character of the planned programs or some significant change in the understanding of the environmental effects which are expected. B. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE CONTINUING NTS TESTING PROGRAM National policy supports a vigorous nuclear weapons research and development program as part of the national defense posture. Since the signing of the Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapon Tests in the Atmosphere, in Outer Space and Underwater, known as the Limited Test Ban Treaty, in 1963, the Atomic Energy Commission conducted a continuing program of underground nuclear testing at the Nevada Test Site, a site dedicated to this purpose. Under the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974, the Energy Research and Development Administration became responsible for carrying out this research and development on the basis of nuclear weapons requirements developed by the Department of Defense. Nuclear weapon testing is planned to continue at the Nevada Test Site as a vital part of this research and development program, until the U.S. goal of an international agreement for discontinuance of test explosions is achieved. These tests, or experiments, support the Lawrence Livermore Laboratory, the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory, and the Sandia Laboratories in the development of nuclear weapons in response to Department of Defense requirements and the development by ERDA of nuclear explosives for peaceful applications. Test site activities also support the Department of Defense testing of weapons effects. References to ERDA throughout this document also imply the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) for actions prior to January 20, 1975. 1-3 I. SUMMARY (Cont.) As of January 1, 1977, there have been 289 announced underground nuclear detonations at the Nevada Test Site since the signing in August 1963 of the Limited Test Ban Treaty. (Note: Not all of the tests conducted at the NTS during this time period have been announced.) It is expected that the underground nuclear testing program will continue at essentially this same pace. It is anticipated that the Threshold Test Ban Treaty will not materially influence the number of underground nuclear tests which are conducted each fiscal year. The Nevada Test Site Containment Evaluation Panel (CEP) will continue to review each proposed test before emplacement of the device. The CEP is composed of individuals with extensive experience in nuclear testing. Members of the CEP are furnished by the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory, Lawrence Livermore Laboratory, Department of Defense, U.S. Geological Survey, and Sandia Laboratories. Independent consultants in hydrology and phenomenology also participate in proceedings of the CEP. The CEP examines each factor which may contribute to unwanted escape of radionuclides to the atmosphere during or after the detonation. Such reviews consider the device yield, the depth of burial, the geology, the hydrology, the geologic medium properties, the location of the emplacement site (including the proximity to and the success of previous test locations), the phenomenology, the closure systems, the stemming design, and the drilling and construction history. This review is done to detect, where possible, man-made openings, natural weaknesses, or discontinuities in the medium or overlying rock which could compromise containment of the radio- active materials underground. Since tests are conducted in a nonhomogeneous medium and involve complex phenomenology, there is no way of providing absolute assurance that no radioactivity will be released to the atmosphere. The chance of there being any substantial radioactive release is very small as has been demonstrated by recent experience. Even so, actions will be planned on each test to protect workers and the public in case any release does occur. The Test Controller, designatedby the Manager of the Nevada Operations Office, will continue to utilize the Test Controller's Advisory Panel made up of specialists in nuclear weapons testing, meteorology, radiation medicine, and biological effects, along with containment and other
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