SEPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Environmental Monitoring
Systems Laboratory
P.O. Box 15027
Las Vegas NV 89114-5027
EPA-600/4-84-067
DOE/DP/O539-053
August 1984
Population
Distribution
Around the
Nevada Test Site
1984
prepared for the
U.S. Department of Energy
under Interagency Agreement
Number DE-AI08-76DP00539
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Printed in the United States of America
Available from:
National Technical Information Service
U.S. Department of Commerce
5285 Port Royal Road
Springfield, Virginia 22161
Price: Printed Copy, Code A02
Microfiche, Code A01
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o
EPA-600/4-84-067
DOE/DP/00539-053
POPULATION DISTRIBUTION AROUND THE NEVADA TEST SITE - 1984
by
Donald D. Smith and J. S. Coogan
Nuclear Radiation Assessment Division
Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory
prepared for the
U.S. Department of Energy
under Interagency Agreement
Number DE-AI08-76DP00539
ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING SYSTEMS LABORATORY
OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA 89114
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NOTICE
This report has been reviewed In accordance with the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency's peer and administrative review policies and approved for
publication. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not consti-
tute endorsement or recommendation for use.
ii
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CONTENTS
Page
Figures and Tables iv
Introduction 1
General Population and Background Discussion 2
Nevada 2
Adjacent Areas of California, Utah and Arizona 3
Close-in Population Distribution 4
Controllable Populated Areas 10
Dairy Herd, Family Cow and Milk Goat Census Information . 15
Summary 19
References 20
m
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FIGURES AND TABLES
FIGURES
Number Page
Population of selected locations around the
Nevada Test Site. . 5
Population distribution within controllable
sectors (40-200 km) 12
Distribution of family milk cows and goats around the NTS
by county (1983) 16
Distribution of Grade A and Grade B dairy cows and
goats around the NTS by county (1983) 17
Location of family cows, family goats, and Grade A
dairies around the Nevada Test Site 18
TABLES
Listing of Selected Population Sites Surrounding the
Nevada Test Site 6
Permanent and Transient Population Estimates within
Controllable Sectors (40-200 km) 11
iv
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INTRODUCTION
In accordance with an Interagency Agreement between the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the Environ-
mental Monitoring Systems Laboratory—Las Vegas (EMSL-LV) conducts a compre-
hensive offsite radiological safety program in support of nuclear testing at
the Nevada Test Site (NTS). As part of this program, the EMSL-LV collects and
maintains census information in the areas around the NTS to facilitate the
planning and management of surveillance and monitoring operations, and to
assess potential and actual population exposures resulting from radioactive
releases into the areas beyond the boundaries of the NTS. Included in the
information compiled are data concerning the number of resident adults and
children, family milk cows, milk goats, and dairy cows located in these offsite
areas. These data from areas between 40 and 200 kilometers of the control
point on the Nevada Test Site are verified immediately prior to each nuclear
test.
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GENERAL POPULATION AND BACKGROUND CONSIDERATIONS
NEVADA
Nevada has a total population of 800,493 (Bureau of Census, 1981) of which
682,947, or 85.3 percent, reside in urban areas and 117,546, or 14.7 percent,
in the extensive rural areas. The Las Vegas and Reno metropolitan areas ac-
count for 100 percent of the total urban population, although 25 Nevada communi-
ties have populations of 2,500 or more. The Las Vegas area is 117 kilometers
from the control point (CP-1) on the NTS on an azimuth of 136° and the Reno
area is 434 kilometers on an azimuth of 311°. The rural population is widely
scattered throughout the state with more than 89 percent of the people residing
in areas with populations less than 1,000. The urban population increased 72.8
percent over the 1970 census while the rural population increased 25 percent.
The major incorporated cities experiencing the highest growth rate were:
Carson City - 32,022, up 107 percent; Henderson - 24,363, up 49 percent; Las
Vegas - 164,674, up 31 percent; Reno 100,756, up 38 percent; and Sparks -
40,780, up 69 percent. Clark county population increased from 273,288 in 1970
to 463,087, up 59 percent, and that of Washoe went from 121,068 to 193,623, up
63 percent, in the same period.
Nevada has approximately 8,900,000 acres in farm and ranch land and an
estimated 2,900 farms or ranches with an average size of 3,069 acres (Drain and
Weber, 1983). During 1982, Nevada farms and ranches produced approximately
1,500,000 tons of crops with a total value of $125,600,000. Principal crops
harvested during 1982 included potatoes, 13,000 acres; all grain, 61,000 acres;
cotton and seed, 2,700 acres; alfalfa seed, 13,000 acres; and all hay, 495,000
acres.
Livestock production is the most important phase of agriculture. The
value of all livestock totaled $242,101,000 in 1982. Principal livestock
raised are cattle and calves, approximately 626,000 beef and 24,000 milk; sheep
and lambs, about 110,000 head; swine, about 14,000 head. Milk production is
estimated at 225,000,000 pounds at a market value of $29,925,000. There are an
estimated 15,000 chickens on Nevada farms and ranches with a total value of
$30,000. The 1982 egg production of 1.8 million was valued at $78,000.
Nevada's nonfuel minerals output value in 1982 was estimated to be
$467,000,000 according to the Bureau of Mines, U.S. Department of Interior
(Lockhard, 1983). The state again led the nation in production of barite,
gold, and mercury. Based on preliminary statistics, Nevada rated 14th
nationally in the value of its nonfuel minerals production.
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According to the Nevada Bureau of Minerals bimonthly oil production
reports, approximately 597,000 barrels of oil were produced in Nevada during
1982, with an estimated value of $17,895,000.
ADJACENT AREAS OF CALIFORNIA, UTAH AND ARIZONA
The Mohave Desert of California which includes Death Valley National
Monument, lies along the southwestern border of Nevada. The population within
the Monument varies considerably from season to season with fewer than 200
permanent residents and tourists in the area during any given period in the
summer months. However, during the winter, as many as 12,000 tourists and
campers can be in the area, particularly during the major holiday periods. The
largest town in this general area is Barstow, located 103 kilometers south-
southwest of the NTS with a population of over 17,600 (Bureau of Census, 1983).
The Owens Valley, where numerous farms, ranches and small towns are located,
lies 40 to 60 kilometers west of Death Valley. The largest town is Bishop,
located 225 kilometers west-northwest of the NTS with a population of 3,300
(Bureau of Census, 1983).
The extreme southwestern region of Utah is somewhat more developed than
the adjacent part of Nevada. The largest town is St. George located 216 kilo-
meters east of the NTS with a population of 11,350 (Bureau of Census, 1983).
The next largest community is Cedar City, with a population of approximately
11,000 and located 280 kilometers east-northeast of the NTS. Both communities
engage in seasonal fruit and vegetable production. Major crops produced in
this area are barley and alfalfa (Christenson and Sherman, 1984). The area
also has several small Grade A dairies.
The extreme northwestern region of Arizona is mostly undeveloped range
land with the exception of that portion in the Lake Mead Recreation area. The
largest town in the area is Kingman, located 280 kilometers southeast of the
NTS with a population of about 9,260 (Bureau of Census, 1983). Several retire-
ment communities are found along the Colorado River, primarily at Lake Mohave
and Lake Havasu. The Bullhead City-Riviera community has a combined population
of over 10,000 people.
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CLOSE-IN POPULATION DISTRIBUTION
The offsite areas adjacent to the NTS are predominantly undeveloped
desert or mountainous lands owned by the Federal government. Much of the
government land is leased for grazing or mining. As shown in Figure 1, pop-
ulation sites are widely scattered and consist of several farming communities,
isolated ranches and mines, and a few villages which serve as trade centers.
The inhabited location (bold numbers) shown in Figure 1 are keyed to Table 1,
which lists the current population estimates for each location. For consis-
tency, a location was identified with the same number that was assigned it if
it was also a sampling station for one of the various surveillance networks
operated by the EMSL-LV as part of the Radiological Safety Program.
For Figure 1, the offsite areas out to 200 kilometers (125 miles) were
divided into 22.5° sectors representing the 16 points of the compass, centered
on the Control Point 1 (CP-1) at the NTS. CP-1 is located roughly at the
center of the NTS at 36° 15' N and 116° 04' W (Environmental Surveillance,
1973). Forty-kilometer (25-mile) radius increments are also shown on the map.
The shaded areas are considered uncontrollable. These are areas where,
because of large numbers of people, the EMSL-LV cannot effectively implement
protective or remedial actions that would assure public safety. Thus, some
of the sectors are considerably shortened from the 200-kilometer radius where
they are blocked by uncontrollable areas closer to the NTS. The largest
"window" where the controllable area of a sector extends to 200 km is from
326.25° to about 47°. The other sectors are controllable to much shorter
distances, varying from 40 km to the south and west to 120 km in the north-
west sector.
Several small farming communities are located within 100 kilometers of
CP-1, the largest being the 1,500-2,100-square-kilometer area of Pahrump Valley.
The community of Pahrump has an estimated population of 5,500 and is located
about 70 kilometers south of CP-1. The Amargosa Farm area relatively nearby
has a population of approximately 1,500 and is located about 50 kilometers to
the southwest. Penoyer Farms, an extensive alfalfa ranch, has a population of
15 and is located 80 kilometers to the northwest. Hiko, about 100 kilometers
to the northeast, has a population of 70 people engaged in farming and ranching
activities. To the south of Hiko is the fertile Pahrahagat Valley, 45 to 50
kilometers long by 3 kilometers wide, about 90 kilometers to the northeast
of the CP-1. The estimated 1,100 people (the majority in the village of
Alamo) in this Valley engage in a variety of gardening, farming, and ranching
activities.
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NNW
NNE
NW
ENE
WNW
WSW
ESE
SW SSW S
XXX-indicates population site - keyed to table 1
SSE
ED
Figure 1. Location of selected population sites around the Nevada Test Site,
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TABLE 1. POPULATION OF SELECTED LOCATIONS SURROUNDING THE NEVADA TEST SITE
Map
No.*
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
14.
15.
16.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
41
45.
46.
47.
48.
49.
50.
51.
Location
Overton, NV
Alamo, NV
Rachel, NV
Tonopah, NV
Goldfield, NV
Beatty, NV
Indian Springs, NV
Pahrump, NV
Shoshone, CA
Lathrop Wells, NV
Mesquite, NV
Rox, NV
Carp, NV
Elgin, NV
Caliente, NV
Pioche, NV
Geyser, NV
Lund, NV
Sunnyside, NV
Duckwater, NV
Currant, NV
Blue Eagle Ranch, NV
Nyala, NV
Casey's Ranch, NV
Adaven, NV
Complex 1, NV
Pine Creek Ranch, NV
Crystal, NV
So. Desert Correctional
Ctr., NV
Koyen's Residence, NV
Tempi ute (Union Carbide)
NV
Tikaboo Valley
(Medlin Ranch), NV
Hiko, NV
Penoyer Farms, NV
Reed Ranch, NV
Diablo, NV
Twin Springs Ranch, NV
Warm Springs, NV
Blue Jay Maintenance
Station, NV
Population
1,750
700
45
2,500
670
800
1,500
5,500
200
45
920
10
8
12
1,000
600
10
325
20
115
35
5
3
4
intermittent
2
1
65
900
2
9
20
5
75
15
intermittent
intermittent
12
4
6
Sector
ESE
ENE
NNE
NW
NW
W
SE
S
S
SW
E
E
E
ENE
ENE
NE
NNE
NNE
NNE
N
NNE
NNE
N
NNE
NNE
NNE
NNE
SSW
SE
NNE
NNE
NE
NE
NE
N
N
N
N
N
Approx. Distance
from CP-1
Miles/Kilometers
92/148
56/90
47/75
97/155
80/131
40/65
28/46
48/77
67/107
26/42
117/187
78/125
83/132
87/139
98/157
114/182
135/216
149/238
122/195
142/227
132/211
120/192
96/154
100/160
89/142
80/128
86/138
25/140
38/61
60/96
58/93
47/75
66/105
53/85
58/93
72/115
88/141
91/146
102/163
(continued)
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TABLE 1. (Continued)
Map
No.*
52.
53.
54.
56.
57.
58.
59.
60.
61.
62.
63.
64.
65.
66.
67.
77.
78.
81.
85.
86.
93.
96.
99.
100.
102.
103.
106.
107.
108.
109.
110.
111.
112.
113.
114.
115.
116.
Location
Clark Station, NV
Stone Cabin Ranch, NV
Hot Creek Ranch, NV
Round Mountain, NV
Manhatten, NV
Tonopah Test Range, NV
Li da, NV
Scotty's Jet.
(Sarcobatus Flat), NV
Springdale, NV
U.S. Ecology, NV
Amargosa Farm Area, NV
American Borate Mill,
NV
Furnace Creek, CA
Valley Crest, CA
Death Valley Junction,
CA
Cactus Springs, NV
Desert Natl . Wildlife
Rng. (Corn Creek), NV
Coaldale, NV
Logandale, NV
Moapa, NV
Crystal Springs , NV
Blue Jay Springs, NV
Uhalde Ranch, NV
Ursine, NV
Site C, NV
Ash Springs, NV
Carver's Area, NV
All Minerals Corp., NV
Belmont, NV
Barley Creek Ranch, NV
Hage Ranch, NV
Peavine Ranch and
Campground, NV
San Antonio Ranch, NV
Russell Ranch, NV
Tonopah City Water
Wells, NV
Pine Creek Wells, NV
Hunts Canyon Area, NV
Population
3
4
8
550
100
1,500+
10
20
35
16
1,500
65
200-1,200
150
20
10
4
10
1,100
1,000
25
5
2
60
20
70
300
65
10
2
2
17
2
5
1
2
2
Sector
NNW
NNW
N
NNW
NNW
NNW
WNW
WNW
WNW
W
SW
SSW
SW
SW
SSW
SE
SE
NW
ESE
ESE
NE
N
NNE
NE
N
NE
NNW
NNW
NNW
NNW
NNW
NNW
NNW
NNW
NNW
NNW
NNW
Approx. Distance
from CP-1
Miles/Kilometers
90/144
96/153
108/173
137/219
125/200
70/113
87/139
61/97
41/65
35/56
40/64
35/56
55/88
50/80
47/75
31/49
50/80
125/200
90/144
83/133
63/101
105/168
87/139
121/193
104/166
62/99
142/227
131/210
122/195
130/208
138/221
132/211
126/201
107/171
105/168
73/117
117/187
(continued)
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TABLE 1. (Continued)
Map
No.*
117.
118.
119.
120.
121.
122.
123.
124.
125.
126.
127.
128.
129.
130.
131.
132.
133.
134.
135.
136.
137.
138.
139.
140.
141.
142.
143.
144.
145.
146.
147.
148.
149.
150.
151.
152.
Location Population
Miller Residence, NV
Circle K Ranch, NV
Silver Bow, NV
Tybo, NV
Emerson Turquoise
Mine, NV
Lockes, NV
Meyer's Place, NV
Keystone Canyon, NV
Obyt Mill, NV
Bellehelen, NV
Eden Creek, NV
Reveille Project, NV
Gil a Project, NV
Golden Arrow, NV
West Reveille Mill, NV
Bevis Ranch, NV
Willow Creek, NV
Cottonwood Ranch, NV
Wadsworth Ranch, NV
Eagle and Trap Springs
Oil Fields, NV
Preston, NV
Marguerite Springs, NV
Freiburg Project, NV
Freiburg Well, NV
Nash Ranch, NV
Panaca, NV
Pahranagat Natl .
Wildlife Refuge, NV
Coyote Springs Ranch,
NV (Judy's)
Warm Springs Resort, NV
Glendale, NV
Fishlake Valley, (Dyer),
NV
Mt. Charleston Area, NV
Johnnie, NV
Spring Meadows Area, NV
Ash Meadows Area, NV
American Borate Housing
Complex, NV
4
1
intermittent
3
2
3
3
intermittent
2
intermittent
intermittent
intermittent
intermittent
intermittent
intermittent
5
intermittent
intermittent
intermittent
25
75
2
intermittent
intermittent
1
700
2
intermittent
100
100
310
500
8
15
25
280
Sector
NNW
NNW
NNW
NNW
NNW
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
NNE
NNE
NNE
NNE
NNE
NNE
NNE
NNE
NE
NE
ENE
ENE
E
E
WNW
SE
S
SSW
SSW
SSW
Approx. Distance
from CP-1
Miles/Kilometers
103/165
88/141
68/109
100/160
91/146
115/184
112/179
101/162
100/160
72/115
75/120
72/115
72/115
58/93
83/133
90/144
95/152
87/139
90/144
125/200
133/213
92/147
81/130
78/125
67/107
110/176
59/97
62/99
78/125
83/133
115/184
53/85
38/61
40/64
41/66
36/58
(continued)
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TABLE 1. (Continued)
Map
No.*
153.
154.
155.
156.
157.
158.
159.
160.
161.
Location
Industrial Minerals
Venture Mill, NV
Rhyolite, NV
Goldpoint, NV
Lida Junction, HV
Silver Peak, NV
Anaconda Moly, NV
Tonopah Airport, NV
Bonnie Clare, NV
Oasis, CA
Population
85
12
20
8
400
300
100
2
45
Sector
SW
W
WNW
NW
NW
NW
NW
WNW
Approx. Distance
from CP-1
Miles/Kilometers
33/53
40/64
77/123
72/115
106/170
127/203
100/160
60/96
125/200
*The map number assigned each location is the same number assigned the location
if it also served as sampling station for the surveillance networks operated
by EMSL-LV. Missing numbers were issued to locations outside the scope of this
map (e.g. No. 1 - Salt Lake City, Utah) or unpopulated locations (e.g. No. 44
Queen City Summit, NV).
Other farming communities are farther than 100 kilometers from the CP-1.
They include the Moapa Valley to the east and the nearby communities of
Logandale and Overton with a combined population of about 4,000, the town of
Panaca to the northeast with a population of 700, and the farming and dairying
towns of Preston and Lund to the north-northeast with about 325 residents.
The largest towns in the near offsite areas are Tonopah, 160 km to the
northwest with a population of nearly 2,500, and Beatty, approximately 65
km to the west with a population of about 800. Between them lies Goldfield
with a population of 670. Pioche to the northeast with a population of 600,
and Round Mountain to the north-northwest with 550 people, are at distances
greater than 160 kilometers from CP-1.
The regions north and east from the NTS are primarily open range land used
for cattle grazing. Some of the valleys (Coal and Garden Valleys) in the
north-northeast and northeast sectors are used for winter grazing by sheep. Up
to six or eight bands of sheep may be present in the area during November
through April.
Within an 80 kilometer radius of the CP-1, there are eight mining ventures
being operated on a regular or semi-regular basis. Two of these are in the
Tempiute area to the northeast, and the remainder in the Beatty and Death Valley
areas to the west and southwest.
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CONTROLLABLE POPULATED AREAS
The EMSL-LV will respond to accident situations in which nuclear testing
activities release radioactivity into the offsite area. Protective and remedial
actions (i.e. evacuation; shelter; access control; pasture control; milk,
food, and water control) will be taken to reduce whole body exposure and to
minimize thyroid dose to the offsite residents. As stated previously, the
feasibility of applying these actions varies with the density of the population
and other geographic factors and, therefore, are considered impractical for
certain portions of the sectors (uncontrollable) shaded in Figure 1.
As standard procedure during the two days before each nuclear test,
EMSL-LV monitors survey all roads, permanent habitations and potentially in-
habitated locations within the controllable areas. Transient populations such
as hunters, fishermen, sheepherders, cowboys, or highway maintenance workers,
are noted. With this knowledge of population distribution and the pre-event
trajectory information, a safety plan is established with reasonable confidence
that the locations of all people in the controllable areas at or shortly after
the event, are known.
Table 2 lists and Figure 2 shows the populations, both permanent and
transient, expected in the controllable portions of sectors out to a distance
of 200 kilometers. The description of these controllable areas will move
counterclockwise around the NTS beginning with the east sector. The population
figures listed in Tables 1 and 2 and those that are discussed in the descrip-
tion of each sector are either from the 1980 census reports (Bureau of Census,
1981 and 1983) or from current surveys by EMSL-LV monitors.
The area between Moapa, Glendale and the lower Pahranagat Lake contains
few permanent residents out to a distance of 160 kilometers (2 at the wildlife
refuge, 12 at Elgin, 8 at Carp and 10 at Rox). The transient population may
rise dramatically during the desert bighorn sheep hunt during November-December
(35-40 permits issued) and waterfowl season from October-December (650 hunter
days) with 50 plus hunters on opening day. Several hundred hunters may be
present during the opening day of the upland game season that starts in
September.
The inhabited areas of the northern part of the northeast (NE) sector
consists of only the Medlin Ranch (5 people), Nash Ranch (1 person) and the
Hiko area which contains about 75 residents dispersed over a reasonably small
area. From October to January, waterfowl hunters (1,000 hunter days, 60-100
hunters opening day) may also be present at Key Pittman Refuge at Hiko with
another 1,000 (fishermen, campers, etc.) spread over the rest of the year.
During the period December-April, several sheep camps may be located between
120 and 200 kilometers from the CP-1.
10
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TABLE 2. PERMANENT AND TRANSIENT POPULATION ESTIMATES WITHIN CONTROLLABLE SECTORS (40-200 km)
Offsite
Sectors
Excluding
Uncontrollable
Areas*
Estimated Estimated Estimated Estimated
Permanent Transient Permanent Transient Permanent Transient Permanent Transient
Population Population Population Population Population Population Population Population
Distance from CP-1
E and ENE+
NE++
NE
N
NNW
WNN
WSW
SSW
0
5
45
0
_
35
16
33
40 - 80 km
0-40
0-5
0-5
0-10
.
0-15
0-5
0-25
80 -
2
76
37
0
-
30
200
0
120 km
0-100
0-100
0-20
0-25
0-5
0-25
250-10000
0-1000
120 -
30
0
11
56
11
30
-
"
160 km
0-200
0-50
0-20
0-30
0-75
0-30
-
"
160
0
0
50
19
161
-
-
- 200 km
0-30
0-30
0-400
0-30
0-100
-
-
* As shown on Figure 1
+ Portions of E and ENE sectors between Moapa and Lower Pahranagat Lake
++ Portion of NE Sector north of Alamo
-------
NNW
NNE
NW
ENE
WNW
WSW
ESE
SW
uncontrollable area
Figure 2. Population distribution within controllable sectors (40-200 km)
12
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All of the north-northeast (NNE), north (N), and north-northwest (NNW)
sectors are considered to be controllable out to 200 km as the population in
these areas is small and widely scattered. The particular locations and number
of people residing there are:
0 Moving east to west along Highways 375 and 6: Tempiute-20, Rachel-45,
Koyens-2, Penoyer Farms-15, Twin Springs Ranch-12, Warm Springs-4,
Eden Creek-2, Emerson's Mine-2, Circle K Ranch-5, Clark Station-3,
Stone Cabin Ranch-4, Miller Residence-4, Pine Creek Wells-1.
0 Moving north of these highways, out to a distance of 200 km from CP-1;
Marguerite Springs-2, the Complex-2, Uhalde Ranch-2, Pine Creek Ranch-1,
Nyala-3, Casey's Ranch-4, Sunnyside-20, Blue Eagle Ranch-5, Eagle and
Trap Spring Oil Fields-25, Bevis Ranch-5, Blue Jay Maintenance Station-6,
Blue Jay Springs-5, Meyer's Place-3, Hot Creek Ranch-8, Obyt Mill-2,
Tybo-3, Site C-20, Lockes-3, Tonopah City Wells-3, Russell Ranch-5,
Hunts Canyon-3, Barley Creek Ranch-2, Belmont-10, Peavine Ranch-9, San
Antonio Ranch-5, and Manhatten-125.
Transient population increases may be expected during the deer hunting
season that runs from September through November (3,000 permits issued for man-
agement areas within these sectors) and the upland game season that runs from
September through March (several thousand license holders hunt in these areas).
Six to eight bands of sheep may be in the NNE sector during the winter months
and groups of cowboys may be rounding up cattle especially in spring and late
fall. Campers and hikers may utilize the State, Bureau of Land Management and
Forest Service campgrounds and trails in the summer months. The Kirch Wildlife
Management area at Sunnyside has some 2,600 hunters during the October-January
waterfowl season (200-400 on opening day) with another 6,000 fishermen and
campers throughout the year.
The northwest (NW) sector is considered uncontrollable beyond 120 km
because of the presence of Tonopah and Goldfield.
The west-northwest (WNW) sector has only a dozen or so inhabited loca-
tions within 160 kilometers. There are 8 people at Lida Junction (Cottontail
Ranch), 20 in the Scotty's Junction (Sarcobatus Flats) area, 10 at Lida, 20 at
Goldpoint, 2 at Bonnie Clare and about 35 at the Springdale area ranches (just
north of Beatty). Transient populations will include hunters during the open
seasons, prospectors, miners, hikers and travelers of Highway 95.
The heavy population concentrations in Beatty, Death Valley National Monu-
ment and the Amargosa farm area make the west (W), west-southwest (WSW), south-
west (SW) and south-southwest (SSW) sectors uncontrollable except for narrow
windows which contain few people out to 40-80 kilometers. The WSW sector
contains only the 16 employees of U.S. Ecology and 28 miners at the Sterling
Mine until the Death Valley National Monument is reached at approximately 80
kilometers. Population within the monument varies greatly with different
seasons. The portion of the SSW and SW sectors between Lathrop Wells (45
people) and Desert Rock only contains Crystal (65 people), Johnnie area (8
people), Spring Meadows (15 people), Ash Meadows (25 people) and Death Valley
Junction (20 people). If the Industrial Mining Venture and American Borate
13
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Complex near the Nevada-Callform'a State line are included, an additional
430 people must be considered.
Considered uncontrollable are the south (S), south-southeast (SSE), south-
west (SW) and east-southeast (ESE) sectors surrounding the NTS which contain the
heavily populated areas of Indian Springs, Mt. Charleston, Pahrump Valley, Las
Vegas Valley and the Virgin and Muddy River Valleys.
14
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DAIRY HERD, FAMILY COW AND MILK GOAT CENSUS INFORMATION
The EMSL-LV, as part of the offsite radiological safety program, maintains
a directory of milk producers and processors within Nevada and portions of ad-
jacent states. Knowledge of the exact locations of milk cows and goats is
needed so that sources of milk can be rapidly found and sampled in the event
of a release of radioactivity from the NTS. This knowledge is also essential
if remedial action (change of diet, storage of milk, etc.) is deemed necessary
to protect the milk supply.
The EMSL-LV offsite monitors continuously update any changes that occur in
the resident and milk cow populations in the areas extending to a distance of
approximately 160 kilometers beyond CP-1. Detailed surveys beyond the 160 km
radius are conducted biannually to locate each farm where cows or goats are
kept for milking.
The last survey was conducted June through August 1983, and covered all of
Nevada; the California counties of Inyo, Kern, Mono, and San Bernardino; the
Idaho counties of Blaine, Gooding, Jerome and Twin Springs; and the Utah coun-
ties of Beaver, Box Elder, Iron, Juab, Millard, Tooele, and Washington. The
census results are summarized in Figures 3 and 4.
The census results are compiled biannually in a directory (Nuclear
Radiation Assessment Division - 1984). This directory (intended for internal
use only) provides the name of each dairy cow or goat owner, location, direction
for finding, azimuth and distance from the CP-1, latitude and longitude, popu-
lation of adults and children, and number of dairy cows, Grade (A or B), family
cows and milk goats. Figure 5 shows the location of family cows, goats and
dairies within the immediate area of the NTS. Only a few family cows or goats
exist within the controllable sectors with the only Grade A dairies located at
Lund, nearly 240 kilometers from the CP.
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N
V
V
X
Kern
17
70
Scale in Miles
25 50 75
100
San Bernardir
14
245
0 50 100 150
3/84 Scale in Kilometers
Milk Cows
Milk Goats
Figure 3. Distribution of family milk cows and goats around the NTS
by county (1983).
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\Kern
7,720
0
Scale in Miles
25 50 75 100
San Bernardii
24.876
0
0 50 100 150
3/84 Scale in Kilometers
Grade A
Grade B
Figure 4. Distribution of Grade A and Grade B dairy cows
around the NTS by county (1983).
17
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Figure 5. Location of family cows, family goats, and Grade A dairies
around the Nevada Test Site.
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SUMMARY
The EMSL-LV, under Interagency Agreement No. DE-AI08-76DP00539 with the
DOE, conducts an offsite radiological safety program outside the boundaries of
the NTS. As part of this program, the EMSL-LV maintains a comprehensive and
current listing of all rural offsite residents and dairy animals within the
controllable sectors (areas where the EMSL-LV could implement protective or
remedial actions that would assure public safety). These listings are verified
immediately prior to each nuclear test. Currently, the controllable sectors
out to 200 kilometers from CP-1 are considered to be the entire NE, NNE, N,
and NNW sectors and portions of the E, ENE, and NE sectors. The WNW sector
is controllable out to 160 kilometers. The WSW and SSW sections are considered
controllable out to 40 kilometers. No major population centers or dairy farms
lie within these sectors.
This report was produced to give a brief overview of the population distri-
bution and information on the activities, within the area of consideration.
The number of people in a sector often vary with seasonal activities (sheep
grazing, hunting,(etc). Other factors such as the price of minerals will also
affect population numbers as mining operations open and close in response to
the market.
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REFERENCES
Bureau of Census. 1980 Census of Population, Number of Inhabitants, United
States Summary"PC8U-1-A1.U.S. Department or commerce, Washington,
TTTC^ 269 pp. 1983.
Bureau of Census. 1980 Census of Population, Number of Inhabitants, Nevada.
PC80-1-A30. U.S. Department of Commerce, Washington, D.C.25 pp.I9~81.
Christensen, J. G. and W. N. Sherman. Utah Agricultural Statistics 1983.
Agricultural Development and Marketing, Utah state Department of
Agriculture, Salt Lake City, Utah. 102 pp. 1984.
Drain, C. and P. D. Weber, "1982 Nevada Agricultural Statistics. Nevada Crop
and Livestock Reporting Service, Max C. Fleischman Agricultural Building,
Room 232, Reno, Nevada. 36 pp. 1983.
Environmental Surveillance. Selected Census Information Around the Nevada
Test Site. NERC-LV-539-THU.S. Enviornmental Protection Agency, National
Environmental Research Center, Las Vegas, Nevada. 11 pp. 1973.
Lockhard, D. W. "The Mineral Industry of Nevada in 1982". Mineral Industry
Surveys, Bureau of Mines, U.S. Department of the Interior, Washington,
D.C. 1 p. 1983.
Nuclear Radiation Assessment Division. Directory of Milk Producers and
Processors: Nevada and parts of adjoining states.Unnumbered for
Internal use, Environmental Monitoring systems Laboratory, Las Vegas,
Nevada. 380 pp. 1983.
20
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TECHNICAL REPORT DATA
(Please read Instructions on the reverse before completing)
1. REPORT NO.
DOE/DP/0539-053
2.
3. RECIPIENT'S ACCESSION NO.
4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE
POPLUATION DISTRIBUTION AROUND THE NEVADA
TEST SITE - 1984
5. REPORT DATE
August 1984
6. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION CODE
7. AUTHOR(S)
Donald D. Smith and J. S. Coogan
8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION REPORT NO.
EPA-600 /4-84-067
9. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME AND ADDRESS
Environmental Monitoring Systems laboratory
Office of Research and Development
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
P.O. Box 15027, Las Vegas, NV 89114
10. PROGRAM ELEMENT NO.
XLUF10
11. CONTRACT/GRANT NO.
IAG No. DE-A108-76DP00539
12. SPONSORING AGENCY NAME AND ADDRESS
Nevada Operations Office
U.S. Department of Energy
P.O. Box 14100
Las Vegas, NV 89114
13. TYPE OF REPORT AND PERIOD COVERED
Response 1984
14. SPONSORING AGENCY CODE
15. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES
Report prepared for the U.S. Department of Energy under Interagency Agreement
No. DE-A108-76DP00539
16. ABSTRACT
The Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory (EMSL-LV) conducts an off-
site radiological safety program outside the boundaries of the Nevada Test Site. As
part of this program, the EMSL-LV maintains a comprehensive and current listing of
all rural offsite residents and dairy animals within the controllable sectors (areas
where the EMSL-LV could implement protective or remedial actions that would assure
public safety). This report was produced to give a brief overview of the population
distribution and information on the activities within the controllable sectors.
Obviously the numbers of people in a sector change dependent upon the season of the
year, and such diverse information as the price of minerals which relates to the
opening and closing of mining operations.
Currently, the controllable sectors out to 200 kilometers from the Control
Point on the NTS are considered to be the entire northeast, north-northeast, north,
north-northwest, west-northwest sectors and portions of the east and east-northeast
sectors. The west-southwest and south-southwest sections are considered controlla-
ble out to 40-80 kilometers. No major population centers or dairy farms lie within
these sectors.
17.
KEY WORDS AND DOCUMENT ANALYSIS
DESCRIPTORS
b.IDENTIFIERS/OPEN ENDED TERMS C. COS AT I Field/Group
18. DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT
RELEASE TO PUBLIC
19. SECURITY CLASS (This Report/
UNCLASSIFIED
21. NO. OF PAGES
24
20. SECURITY CLASS (This page)
UNCLASSIFIED
22. PRICE
EPA Form 2220-1 (R«v. 4-77) PREVIOUS EDITION is OBSOLETE
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