NERC-LV-539-8 SELECTED CENSUS INFORMATION AROUND THE NEVADA TEST SITE by Environmental Surveillance National Environmental Research Center U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY Las Vegas, Nevada n February 1973 This project performed under a Memorandum of Understanding No. AT(26-1)-539 for the U. S. ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION ------- This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by the United States Government. Neither the United States nor the United States Atomic Energy Commission, nor any of their employ- ees, nor any of their contractors, subcontractors, or their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, com- pleteness or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately-owned rights. Available from the National Technical Information Service, U. S. Department of Commerce, Springfield, VA. 22151 Price: paper copy $3.00; microfiche $.95 00, ------- NERC-LV-539-8 SELECTED CENSUS INFORMATION AROUND THE NEVADA TEST SITE by Environmental Surveillance National Environmental Research Center U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY Las Vegas, Nevada Published February 1973 This project performed under a Memorandum of Understanding No. AT(26-l)-539 for the U. S. ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION ------- ABSTRACT The National Environmental Research Center-Las Vegas (NERC-LV), Environmental Protection Agency, conducts a comprehensive off-site radiological safety pro- gram in support of nuclear testing at the Nevada Test Site (NTS). To facili- tate the planning and management of required 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, the NERC-LV collects and maintains census information in the area around the NTS. This report summarizes this census information which includes the number and distribution of resident adults and children, family milk cows, and Grade A dairy cows located by azimuth and distance within a radius of 450 miles of Control Point 1 at approximately the center of the NTS, 36° 15' N, 116° 04' W. ------- TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT i LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURE 111 INTRODUCTION 1 BACKGROUND CONSIDERATIONS 2 CLOSE-IN POPULATION DISTRIBUTION 4 ADJACENT STATES 5 REFERENCES 6 DISTRIBUTION ------- LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURE Table Page 1. Number and distribution of adults by azimuth and 8 distance from NTS/CP-1. 2. Number and distribution of children by azimuth and 9 distance from NTS/CP-1. 3. Number and distribution of grade "A" cows by azimuth 10 and distance from NTS/CP-1. 4. Number and distribution of family cows by azimuth and 11 distance from NTS/CP-1. Figure 1. Population distribution by azimuth/distance ------- INTRODUCTION In accordance with a Memorandum of Understanding between the Environmental Protection Agency and the Atomic Energy Commission, the National Environmental Research Center-Las Vegas (NERC-LV) conducts a comprehensive off-site radiological safety program in support of nuclear testing at the Nevada Test Site (NTS). As part of this program, the NERC-LV collects and maintains census information in the area 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, and Grade A dairy cows located in these off- site areas. This report summarizes the number and distribution of human population and milk cow population by azimuth and distance from Control Point 1 (CP-1) located roughly at the center of the NTS, 36° 15' N, 116° 04' W. Tables 1 and 2 show the population distribution out to a distance of 450 miles from CP-1. Tables 3 and 4 list the milk cow distribution. The data are presented in 30-degree sectors at distance increments of 25 miles. Figure 1 shows the azimuth/distance distribution of census data within a radius of 200 miles of CP-1. ------- BACKGROUND CONSIDERATIONS The State of Nevada has a total population of 488,738 (1970 census), of which 395,336, or 80.9%, reside in urban areas and 93,402, or 19.1% in the extensive rural areas. The Las Vegas and Reno metropolitan areas account for approximately 98% of the total urban population. The Las Vegas area is 73 miles from the NTS on an azimuth of 136° and the Reno area 271 miles on an azimuth of 311°. The rural population is widely scattered throughout the state with less than one-half the people residing in areas with a population over 1,000. The urban population increased 97.4% over the previous census while the rural population increased 10.4%. The major incorporated cities are experiencing the highest growth rate: Carson City - 15,468, up 199.6%; Henderson - 16,395, up 30.9%; Las Vegas - 125,787, up 95.3%; North Las Vegas - 36,216, up 96.6%; Reno - 72,863, up 41.6%; and Sparks - 24,187, up 45.5%. Nevada has approximately 9,000,000 acres in farm and ranch land and an estimated 2,100 farms or ranches with an average size of 4,286 acres. Nevada farms and ranches last year produced 1,009,000 tons of crops on 491,000 acres with a total value of $30,228,000. Principal crops harvested include corn silage, 4,000 acres; all grain, 33,000 acres; cotton and seed, 2,300 acres; alfalfa seed, 22,000 acres; and all hay, 428,000 acres. Livestock production is the most important phase of agriculture. The value of all livestock totaled $120,000,000. in 1971. Principal livestock raised are cattle and calves, approximately 600,000 beef and 26,000 milk; sheep and lambs, about 239,000 head; and hogs and pigs, about 9,400 head. Milk production is estimated at 139,000,000 pounds at a market value of $7,564,000. ------- Details of resident and milk cow population in the areas extending to a distance of approximately 50 miles beyond the NTS and the Nellis Air Force Range boundaries are updated continuously. Biennial detailed surveys beyond the 50-mile radius are conducted to update census infor- mation, including residents, family milk cows, and Grade "A" dairies for the entire State of Nevada and portions of Arizona, Utah, Idaho and California. ------- CLOSE-IN POPULATION DISTRIBUTION The off-site area nearest the NTS is predominantly a rural area consisting of a variety of farms and ranches ranging in size from a few acres to several hundred thousand acres. Several small communities are located in the area, the largest being the Pahrump valley. This rural community has an estimated population of 1,100 and is located about 45 miles south of the NTS. The Amargosa Farm area has a population of about 200 and is located about 30 miles southwest. The Spring Meadows Farm area is a relatively new development consisting of approximately 10,000 acres with a population of somewhat more than 100. This area is about 35 miles south- southwest of the NTS. The largest town in the near off-site area is Beatty with a population of more than 500 and located about 40 miles to the west. The region north and east is primarily open range land used for cattle grazing, although not extensively. Some of the valleys in this region are also used for winter grazing by certain sheep herders from the northern part of the state. There are also 12 mining operations within 50 miles of the NTS, about five of which are operated on a regular basis. ------- ADJACENT STATES The Mohave Desert of California which includes Death Valley National Monu- ment, lies along the southwestern border of Nevada. The population in the Monument boundaries 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 165 miles south-southwest of the NTS with a population of over 12,000. The Owens Valley, where numerous farms, ranches and small towns are located, lies 25 to 35 miles west of Death Valley. The largest town is Bishop, located 140 miles west-northwest of the NTS with a population of about 3,000, The extreme southwestern region of Utah is somewhat more developed than the adjacent part of Nevada. The largest town is Cedar City, with a population of approximately 9,000 and located 175 miles east-northeast of the NTS. The next largest community is St. George located 135 miles east of the NTS with a population of somewhat more than 7,000. Both communities engage in seasonal fruit and vegetable production. 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. Several small retirement communities are found along the Colorado River, primarily at Lake Mohave and Lake Havasu. The largest town in the area is Kingman, located 175 miles southeast of the NTS with a population of about 6,000. ------- REFERENCES 1. U. S. Department of Commerce - Bureau of Census Publications PC (1)- A30, PHC (2)-30 and PC (VI)-30. 2. U. S. Department of Agriculture - "Nevada Agricultural Statistics 1970." 3. U. S. Department of Agriculture - Nevada Crop and Livestock Reporting Service Bulletins. 4. Nevada Bureau of Mines - Report 18 and Associated Periodic Bulletins. ------- A- ADULTS C - CHILDREN D - DAIRY COWS F - FAMILY COWS A - NO SURVEY CONDUCTED Figure 1. Population distribution by azimuth/distance. 7 ------- Table 1. Number and distribution of adults by azimuth and distance from NTS/CP-1. Distance (Miles) 0-25 25-50 50-75 75-100 100-125 125-150 150-175 175-200 200-225 225-250 00 250-275 275-300 300-325 325-350 „_... ___ oOU-O/ 3 375-400 400-425 TOTAL 0-29 0 0 20 15 36 391 4,731 1,540 100 405 6,442 1,610 230 865 .j-o t-OO 126 16,969 30-59 0 0 322 2 880 58 37 1,113 41 2,214 2,246 2,714 215 2 9,844 60-89 0 0 11 642 20 5,880 7,315 3,254 1,468 32 18,622 90-119 0 0 0 2,131 885 30 22 798 73 2,885 20,931 53 27,808 120-149 0 1,712 170,979 16,028 361 8,379 8,732 730 647 202 207,770 150-179 0 44 1,168 163 308 62 4,611 62 6,418 180-209 2 109 141 253 1,277 2,147 16,390 25,536 6 45,861 -«. / 210-239 ! 0 154 82 31 3,263 13,474 3,081 0 4 20,089 240-269 0 856 11 141 2,338 3 0 2 3,351 270-299 0 32 25 38 724 7,969 1,268 1,349 14 11,419 300-329 a 0 0 , 8 136 2,201 166 1,250 3,582 4,374 10,689 90,793 571 360 29 9 114,168 130-359 0 0 4 114 28 113 116 302 118 299 4,497 4,333 240 381 fiR? \JUŁ- 11 2 11,240 Total 2 2,907 172,771 19,694 12,321 38,672 47,553 38,268 6,835 16,694 124,941 9,281 1,045 1,275 1 140 1 | 1 tVJ 152 8 493,559 = Survey incomplete. ------- Table 2. Number and distribution of children by azimuth and distance from NTS/CP-1. AZIMUTH (Degrees) Distance (Miles) 0-25 25-50 50-75 75-100 100-125 125-150 150-175 175-200 200-225 «, 225-250 250-275 275-300 300-325 opr ocn Oty— OOU •sen oyc OQU "O/3 375-400 400-425 ^ TOTAL 0-29 0 0 5 5 16 287 3,083 842 51 239 4,293 1,011 148 RQO U.7U nr-j tOo 135 10,958 30-59 0 0 221 0 571 33 32 824 27 1,911 1,973 1,976 155 2 7,725 60-89 0 0 14 418 22 4,760 5,706 2,610 1,110 22 14,662 90-119 0 0 0 1,189 520 6 21 597 10 2,217 16,633 39 21,232 120-149 0 402 94,107 8,816 151 5,025 5,209 421 339 105 114,575 150-179 0 53 661 78 142 34 3,032 38 4,038 180-209 0 58 74 100 200 1,375 9,792 15,257 4 26,860 210-239 0 65 44 4 1,882 8,823 2,093 0 3 12,914 240-269 0 356 2 71 1,233 2 0 0 1,664 270-299 0 15 1 3 456 4,247 807 552 6 6,087 300-329 0 0 0 57 931 42 590 2,205 2,766 5,894 44,609 235 170 1? 1 C 2 57,513 330-359 0 0 1 40 11 51 63 106 56 112 2,737 2,190 108 PIP C. \ C. or* oot 5 1 6,047 Total 0 949 95,130 10,781 6,135 24,685 30,428 23,452 4,365 10,478 70,267 5,451 581 fil A Ol *T fin? wVJ / 146 6 284,275 = Survey incomplete. ------- Table 3. Number and distribution of grade "A" cows by azimuth and distance from NTS/CP-1. AZIMUTH (Degrees) Distance (Miles) 0-25 25-50 50-75 75-100 100-125 125-150 150-175 175-200 200-225 o 225-250 250-275 275-300 300-325 325-350 350-375 375-400 400-425 425-450 TOTAL 0-29 0 0 0 0 0 344 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 52 131 21 548 30-59 0 0 454 0 0 0 4 3 25 991 899 1,457 3,869 9,728 12,930 8,902 7,292 275 46,829 60-89 0 0 0 0 0 1,284 360 1,588 1,358 1,100 133 50 327 6,200 90-119 0 0 0 2,500 1,475 0 0 0 70 25 65 4,135 120-149 150-179 0 0 160 0 0 0 85 0 456 50 12,723 22,056 5,279 268 1,993 43,070 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 80 80 180-209 210-239 240-269 270-299 300-329 330-359 0 0 0 0 0 0 1,225 295 1,520 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 180 0 0 180 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 942 3,733 1,597 205 6,477 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 150 150 Total 0 0 614 2,500 1,475 1,808 1,674 1,886 2,325 5,824 3,085 1,912 16,999 31 ,854 18,286 9,366 7,292 2,289 109,189 = Survey incomplete. ------- Table 4. Number and distribution of family cows by azimuth and distance from NTS/CP-1. AZIMUTH (Degrees) Distance (Miles) 0-25 25-50 50-75 75-100 100-125 125-150 150-175 175-200 200-225 225-250 250-275 275-300 300-325 325-350 350-375 375-400 400-425 4 TOTAL 0-29 0 0 0 4 2 61 5 49 45 57 104 67 38 58 52 11 553 30-59 0 0 2 0 8 13 11 28 6 86 86 57 5 6 308 60-89 0 0 2 9 3 115 187 100 24 440 90-119 1 0 0 0 14 18 0 10 14 1 1 3 11 72 120-149 1 0 1 0 0 2 1 33 18 20 75 150-179 ] 0 0 12 2 2 0 0 0 16 180-209 't 0 0 4 0 0 2 38 21 65 n 0-239 j 0 9 0 0 2 3 1 0 15 240-269 't 0 0 0 0 9 0 0 0 ---- 9 >70-299 3 0 6 0 2 10 22 0 2 42 100-329 3 0 0 0 0 1 15 3 1 70 242 78 3 8 1 1 423 30-359 0 0 0 2 1 17 19 11 31 26 40 41 28 70 35 2 323 Total 0 16 20 33 58 249 307 244 197 412 311 179 79 129 87 14 6 2,341 = Survey incomplete. ------- DISTRIBUTION 1-15 NERC-LV, Las Vegas, Nevada 16 Mahlon E. Gates, Manager, NVOO/AEC, Las Vegas, Nevada 17 Robert H. Thalgott, NVOO/AEC, Las Vegas, Nevada 18 Henry G. Vermillion, NVOO/AEC, Las Vegas, Nevada 19 Chief, NOB/DNA, NVOO/AEC, Las Vegas, Nevada 20 Robert R. Loux, NVOO/AEC, Las Vegas, Nevada 21 Donald W. Hendricks, NVOO/AEC, Las Vegas, Nevada 22 Elwood M. Douthett, NVOO/AEC, Las Vegas, Nevada 23 Technical Library, NVOO/AEC, Las Vegas, Nevada 24 Mail & Records, NVOO/AEC, Las Vegas, Nevada 25 Martin B. Biles, DOS, USAEC, Washington, D. C. 26 Director, DMA, USAEC, Washington, D. C. 27 Harold F. Mueller, ARL/NOAA, NVOO/AEC, Las Vegas, Nevada 28 Gilbert J. Ferber, ARL/NOAA, Silver Spring, Maryland 29 Stanley M. Greenfield, Assistant Administrator for Research & Monitoring, EPA, Washington, D. C. 30 William D. Rowe, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Radiation Programs, EPA, Rockville, Maryland 31 Dr. William A. Mills, Dir., Div. of Criteria & Standards, Office of Radiation Program, EPA, Rockville, Maryland 32 Ernest D. Harward, Acting Director, Division of Technology Assessment, Office of Radiation Program, EPA, Rockville, Maryland 33 Bernd Kahn, Chief, Radiochemistry & Nuclear Engineering, NERC, EPA, Cincinnati, Ohio 34 Gordon Everett, Director, Office of Technical Analysis, EPA, Washington, D. C. 35 - 36 Charles L. Weaver, Director, Field Operations Division, Office of Radiation Programs, EPA, Rockville, Maryland 37 Kurt L. Feldmann, Managing Editor, Radiation Data & Reports, ORP, EPA, Rockville, Maryland 38 Regional Administrator, EPA, Region IX, San Francisco, California 39 Regional Radiation Representative, EPA, Region IX, San Francisco, Calif. ------- DISTRIBUTION (Continued) 40 Eastern Environmental Radiation Laboratory, EPA, Montgomery, Alabama 41 Library, EPA, Washington, D. C. 42 William C. King, LLL, Mercury, Nevada 43 James E. Carothers, LLL, Livermore, California 44 Charles I. Browne, LASL, Los Alamos, New Mexico 45 Harry S. Jordan, LASL, Los Alamos, New Mexico 46 Arden E. Bicker, REECo, Mercury, Nevada 47 Savino W. Cavender, REECo, Mercury, Nevada 48 Carter D. Broyles, Sandia Laboratory, Albuquerque, New Mexico 49 Robert H. Wilson, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 50 Richard S. Davidson, Battelle Memorial Institute, Columbus, Ohio 51 Frank E. Abbott, USAEC, Golden, Colorado 52 J. P. Corley, Battelle Memorial Institute, Richland, Washington 53 Ernest G. Gregory, State of Nevada, Division of Health, Carson City, Nevada 54 John M. Ward, President, Desert Research Institute, University of Nevada, Reno. 55 - 56 Technical Information Center, Oak Ridge, Tennessee (for public availability) ------- |