Environmental assessment for spill tests of NH/sub 3/ and N/sub 2/O/sub 4/ at Frenchman Flat, Nevada Test Site

Technical Report · Wed Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1983

OSTI ID:6152458

Leitner, P; Miller, G; Shinn, J H

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) has assessed the environmental effects of a proposed series of liquefied ammonia (NH/sub 3/) and nitrogen tetroxide (N/sub 2/O/sub 4/) spill tests. This short-term program of field experiments is designed to simulate accidental releases of these materials from pressurized transport and storage vessels. The information gained from these studies is needed to determine the safety problems presented by accidental spills and to develop better models to predict the dispersion behavior of these heavy gases. The proposed location for this series of spill tests in Frenchman Flat on the Nevada Test Site (NTS). Frenchman Flat is a desert alluvial basin with a dry lake bed or playa at the center. An environmental assessment of the proposed project indicates that there would be no significant adverse impact. No permanent facilities would be constructed and surface disturbance would be minimal. The major concern is for the effects of the experimental releases of NH/sub 3/ and N/sub 2/O/sub 4/, gases that are toxic at high concentrations. The scope of the tests is such that there would be no significant impact on ambient air quality and Nevada guidelines for significant emission rates would not be exceeded. A modified Gaussian plume model was used to compute the downwind range to various significant concentration of NH/sub 3/ and NO/sub 2/. These calculations were then used to estimate the potential effects of the spill tests on natural vegetation and wildlife. The highest NH/sub 3/ and NO/sub 2/ concentrations would be largely confined to the barren playa. Even during the largest planned spill tests, no significant impact to biological resources is expected. No rare, threatened, or endangered plant or animal species are present in the test area.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 6152458
• Report Number(s): UCID-19822; ON: DE83013849
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500500* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Site Resource & Use Studies-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AMMONIA
CHALCOGENIDES
DIFFUSION
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
FIELD TESTS
GAS SPILLS
HYDRIDES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NEVADA TEST SITE
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN HYDRIDES
NITROGEN OXIDES
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PLANTS
TESTING
US DOE
US ORGANIZATIONS
WILD ANIMALS