Air Monitoring Network at Tonopah Test Range: Network Description, Capabilities, and Analytical Results

Technical Report · Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2012

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/1046463· OSTI ID:1046463

Hartwell, William T. ^[1]; Daniels, Jeffrey ^[1]; Nikolich, George ^[1]; Shadel, Craig ^[1]; Giles, Ken ^[1]; Karr, Lynn ^[1]; Kluesner, Tammy ^[1]

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1. Desert Research Institute (DRI), Reno, NV (United States)

During the period April to June 2008, at the behest of the Department of Energy (DOE), National Nuclear Security Administration, Nevada Site Office (NNSA/NSO); the Desert Research Institute (DRI) constructed and deployed two portable environmental monitoring stations at the Tonopah Test Range (TTR) as part of the Environmental Restoration Project Soils Activity. DRI has operated these stations since that time. A third station was deployed in the period May to September 2011. The TTR is located within the northwest corner of the Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR), and covers an area of approximately 725.20 km2 (280 mi2). The primary objective of the monitoring stations is to evaluate whether and under what conditions there is wind transport of radiological contaminants from Soils Corrective Action Units (CAUs) associated with Operation Roller Coaster on TTR. Operation Roller Coaster was a series of tests, conducted in 1963, designed to examine the stability and dispersal of plutonium in storage and transportation accidents. These tests did not result in any nuclear explosive yield. However, the tests did result in the dispersal of plutonium and contamination of surface soils in the surrounding area.

• Research Organization: Desert Research Institute (DRI), Reno, NV (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
• OSTI ID: 1046463
• Report Number(s): DOE-NV--26383-29
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
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