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Photos — Underground Nuclear Testing -- Nevada Test Site
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area 5 low-level radioactive dispoal site cp 1  -- nts nuclear testing control center nts yucca flat - nuclear test area main tunel - yucca mountain nuclear blast test - march 1953 the device assembly facility (daf) yucca mountain - main tunel nts area 3 low-level radioactive disposal site

Top Left - Area 5 Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Site -- This is an arial view of DOE's Area 5 Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal site. The disposal site is located in the south eastern portion of the Nevada Test Site (NTS) in an area known as Frenchman Flat. The site is used for disposal of Low-Level defense waste, classified waste, mixed Low-Level waste and storage of Transuranic Waste.  --  See closeup view     View waste unloading activities  

Top Center -- Control Point One (CP One) -- This is picture of Control Point One at the Nevada Test Site (NTS). Infrastructure at the control point is extensive. The picture show numerous dish antennas that serve the "nuclear test controller." Communication systems support closed circuit television systems, microwave and telephone networks on NTS. CP One was used to "set off" nuclear detonations at the NTS.

Top Right -- Yucca Flat -- Many of the underground tests conducted at the NTS left subsidences craters varying in diameter and depth. This blueish picture of Yucca Flat above show numerous subsidence craters in the main valley of the NTS. Overall there were just over 800 underground tests detonated at the NTS.

Center Photo -- House in Yucca Flat -- To gain experimental data for the civilian Civil Defense Agency, nuclear blasts were conducted at the Nevada Test Site to assess damage on certain structures such as houses, railroad tracks, and bridges. Tests were conducted to help develop the nation's strategies for protecting the civilian population, industries, businesses, schools, and hospitals in case of a nuclear attack.

Center Right -- The Device Assembly Facility (DAF) -- The DAF at the Nevada Test Site (NTS) is used to support activities related to nuclear test readiness and science-based stockpile stewardship, including assembly of subcritical experiments. According the DOE, The DAF mission is to provide a modern, safe, and secure facility for NTS nuclear explosive operations.

Bottom Left -- Inside Yucca Mountain -- Yucca Mountain is being studied by the U.S. Department of Energy as a potential Geologic Repository for the Disposal of Spent Nuclear Fuel and High-Level Radioactive Waste. Yucca Mountain is located about 70 miles northwest of Las Vegas, Nevada.   For more information about Yucca Mountain visit Nevada's Agency for Nuclear Projects and/or the Yuccamountain.org website.   (Arial View)   (Map)

Bottom Right -- Area 3 Low-Level Radioactive Disposal Site -- This is an arial view of DOE's Area 3 Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal site. The site is located in Yucca Flat in the north eastern part of the NTS. The disposal cells are comprise four subsidence craters (U-3ax, U-3bl,U-3ah, and U-3at) that resulted from several underground nuclear tests. The site is used for disposal of bulk and packaged Low-Level defense waste. Originally, the site was used for disposal of contaminated waste generated from the NTS atmospheric testing program.(Image is 90K) Arial close up ground view photo (76K) Arial valley view photo (Image is 182KB)