RECENT RISK ASSESSMENT INITIATIVES IN SUPPORT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CLEANUP AT THE U.S. NEVADA TEST SITE

摘要

This paper focuses on risk assessment of radionuclide contamination of surface soils at the U.S. Nevada Test Site (NTS). The paper commences with a general description of the NTS, identifying its historic and current role as the North American continental nuclear weapons test site for the U.S. A geophysical profile of the NTS is also provided, followed by a profile of the overall radionuclide and chemical contamination at the site. The discussion then focuses on radionuclide contamination of surface soils at the NTS. A profile of radionuclide surface soil contamination is provided. This is followed by a description and comparison of risk assessments for radionuclide soil contamination that have been performed for the NTS, including the current, on-going risk assessment being performed by the Nevada Risk Assessment/Management Program (NRAMP). The paper concludes with a description of the strengths and weaknesses of the current and prior risk assessment efforts, especially with regard to contaminant concentration and distribution data. Recommendations are made to improve future analyzes.