Transportation
of Low-Level Radioactive Waste
to the Nevada Test Site
The U.S. Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration Nevada Site Office
accepts low-level and mixed low-level radioactive waste (typically consisting of items such as
construction debris, trash, soil, and equipment) from approved U.S. Department of Energy and
U.S. Department of Defense generator sites across the country, for permanent disposal at a
secure, remote location within the Nevada Test Site.
Waste is shipped in drums, boxes, large cargo containers, or other
Nevada Test Site approved containers that are built to meet strict
U.S. Department of Transportation safety requirements Tonopah
Test Range
Carriers are responsible for selecting transportation routes which
minimize radiological risk and are in accordance with U.S. 2%
Department of Transportation regulations
U.S. Department of Energy and U.S. Department of Defense
generator sites recommend that the trucking companies use
Relative percentage of routes
specific routes, and avoid other routes
used in shipments to the Nevada
Test Site (October 1, 2006 to
These Nevada Site Office routing preferences are coordinated with September 30, 2007) *
State of Nevada officials to avoid heavily populated areas, and are
monitored through mandatory driver questionnaires * Remaining percentage comprised
of 8 shipments through the areas of
Creech Air Force Base, Las Vegas and
The Nevada Site Office can and will suspend a generator’s shipments Reno
if transported on non-preferred routes
Emergency Management Grant Program Enhances Safety in Region
A low-level waste container is removed
Beginning in 2000, a U.S. Department of Energy grant has provided funding
from transport for placement in an
engineered disposal cell for enhanced county emergency response capabilities near the Nevada Test
Site.
The State of Nevada administers the funding, which is needs-based and
distributed according to applications submitted by counties. Nearly $7.5
million dollars has been provided to Clark, Elko, Esmeralda, Lincoln, Nye and
White Pine counties for emergency communication and response
equipment, facilities, and salaries for emergency managers and training
officers.
To fund this grant, approved waste generators are charged an additional
$.50 per cubic foot of low-level and mixed low-level waste disposed.
For more information about the Environmental Management program, contact: U.S. Department of Energy • National Nuclear Security Administration Nevada Site Office • Office of Public Affairs
P.O. Box 98518, Las Vegas, NV 89193-8518 • (702) 295-3521 • nevada@nv.doe.gov • www.nv.doe.gov