Containment Evaluation Panel and Offsite Radiological Safety

Archaeologist surveying cultural resources at the Nevada Test Site.
Archaeologist surveying cultural resources at the Nevada Test Site.
DRI is a member of the DOE Containment Evaluation Panel (CEP) that evaluates the design for every nuclear test and other large underground experiments conducted on the NTS. The responsibility of the CEP is to comment on all aspects related to safe containment of underground nuclear tests. The primary activity of DRI for the CEP is to address the hydrologic implications of each test, as well as other aspects of the containment design. Since each test possesses unique features, the activities that are carried out vary from test to test and may include computer analyses of the data from past tests, including analyses of the geology and materials properties in and around the site of the proposed event, and comparison of these parameters with those of past events. DRI is also a member of the Containment Review Panel (CRP), which evaluates non-nuclear tests.

Petroglyphs at the Nevada Test Site.
Petroglyphs at the Nevada Test Site.
While no underground nuclear tests are currently being conducted, DOE must maintain the capability to return to testing if necessary. DOE has asked DRI to evaluate different methods of offsite monitoring should testing ever be resumed to ensure the safety of residents off the NTS. The recent upgrade of the CEMP network, with capability of real-time and remote monitoring of sites, is an example of upgrades in monitoring capability that are being incorporated into plans. DRI is also evaluating the past dispersal of contaminants to determine pathways and receptors that would need to be monitored over a much wider area of the western United States. The WRCC is assisting in the identification of existing monitoring platforms that could be used if underground nuclear testing was resumed.
 

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