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March 19,, 2004
Chemical, biological tests planned for NTSTESTS CONNECTED TO HOMELAND SECURITY; ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL ADAMANT PUBLIC IS SAFE
By MARK WAITE
Mike Skougard, environmental programs team leader for the National Nuclear Security Administration's Nevada site office, said his agency began notifying local government officials about the plan last October. Twenty-five comments were received during public comment periods, which were generally supportive of the project, he said. The only agencies that responded were the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The federal government has taken an interest in chemicals that could be used in biological attacks since the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist strike, he said. The tests are designed to develop sensing devices that detect biological weapons, according to the Security Administration. "We are looking at the potential for explosive releases, or releases from ground transportation from cars, and aircraft releases. These are all to try and allow ... our customers, which in some cases includes parts of DOE, to try and learn how to identify and track potential releases of these chemicals," Skougard said. During a meeting in Amargosa Valley last month, Carl Gertz, chairman of the Nevada Test Site Community Advisory Board, said the mission of the test site has changed from primarily a testing ground for the nation's stockpile of nuclear weapons to a training ground for homeland security and counter-terrorism. Certain chemicals, "the really, really nasty stuff" can't be released due to treaty considerations, he said. Instead the tests will involve "pretty benign types of biological organisms," Skougard said. "Most of what we're looking at are not actual chemical weapons, in fact we wouldn't release any of that at all," said Skougard. A letter from the energy department dated Oct. 1 states the exercise would release certain non-pathogenic, non-infectious biological materials from different locations on the test site. Specifically, the tests will release bacillus globigii, bacillus thuringiensis, bacillus subtilis, erwinia herbiola, and a male-specific bacteriophage, a non-infectious, or dead Influenza A virus. They were described as microbial agents that can simulate pathogens. Skougard said some of those chemicals are used in herbicides, insecticides and pesticides. The Security Administration indicated the Nevada Test Site has a wide variety of terrain that can mimic the types of locations where chemical detection systems could be used, such as industrial complexes, warehouses, tunnels and bunkers. Skougard said he traveled to Tonopah March 7 to brief Bureau of Land Management officials as well as representatives from Nye and Esmeralda counties. A draft environmental assessment is being prepared; if the conclusion of that assessment results in a finding of no significant impact, a lengthier environmental impact statement process wouldn't be required, Skougard said. A public comment period is scheduled next month for state and federal agencies to provide input on the environmental assessment. "We're looking at providing this service for other federal agencies, the military and local first responders," Skougard said. The highest concentrations will be 100 meters from the release sites, he said, and by 500 meters the material will be at a level that wouldn't be detectable. "We intend to treat these things with a lot of respect. In cases where we are using killed or attenuated organisms we're still going to treat them as if they're alive. So we're not going to be too cavalier about this," Skougard said. Commissioner Joni Eastley said she received calls about the proposal; mainly concerns the releases would kill migratory birds. Skougard said the releases could result in some mortality to animals and plants, but he defended the record of testing at the site. "In the 20 years plus we've been doing releases there we've not been able to identify any adverse effects. It's really had no effects on plants or animals downhill from the release site," Skougard said. Test site workers will wear appropriate safety equipment during the releases, he said. "The concentrations of chemicals we would be releasing are quite low," Skougard said. "At no time will any member of the general public be exposed. Of course, the test site is remote, we will be doing it away from the parts of the test site that the public would be exposed to, which is the southern edge," Skougard said. A project advisory panel will supervise the test releases, made up of Bechtel Corporation representatives, NNSA staff, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Air Force and others. A post-release monitoring program would also be set up. Nye County Commission Chairman Henry Neth asked if a representative from Nye County, the site county, could sit on the review panel. |
