AMARGOSA VALLEY, Nev. – The Amargosa Valley community recently welcomed Nevada National Security Site (NNSS) scientists and staff members for the seventh-annual Groundwater Open House.
August 15, 2016
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Nevada Site Specific Advisory Board (NSSAB) members, left to right, Pennie Edmond, Donna Hruska (NSSAB chair), Janice Keiserman, and Don Neill in front of the NSSAB display at the Groundwater Open House.
NNSS groundwater expert Ken Ortego (left) shows a Groundwater Open House attendee core samples from drilling at the NNSS.
Amargosa Valley resident George Tucker discusses a Frenchman Flat display with groundwater expert Jenny Chapman (foreground).
AMARGOSA VALLEY, Nev. – The Amargosa Valley community recently welcomed Nevada National Security Site (NNSS) scientists and staff members for the seventh-annual Groundwater Open House.
Attendees from throughout southern Nevada arrived ready with questions for the NNSS groundwater experts, who presented displays on topics ranging from the historical background of the NNSS to the evaluation of sampling technology. Representatives from the state’s Environmental Protection and Water Resources divisions, Nye County, Nevada Site Specific Advisory Board and Community Environmental Monitoring Program were present.
George Tucker, a chemical engineer from Amargosa Valley, learned more about the safety of NNSS groundwater. After viewing the displays and speaking with several NNSS groundwater experts, Tucker said, “any fears that I might have had, have vanished.”
Tucker appreciated the proactive effort by the NNSS to reach out to surrounding communities. “It is gratifying in this day and age to see a government agency making the effort to keep residents informed,” he said.
Keeping the public informed is a top priority of the NNSS.
“The Groundwater Open House is a great way to connect with communities. It’s an opportunity for us to meet with local residents, answer their questions and receive their feedback,” NNSS Public Affairs Specialist Kelly Snyder said.
Displays at the open house took various forms, from videos on groundwater at the NNSS, to animated computer models of the site, to posters on the latest sampling results. With the help of the groundwater experts, local residents studied maps of groundwater flow patterns and learned how groundwater velocity and radioactive decay impact contaminant movement. Also featured was an interactive groundwater demonstration using an “ant farm” model of geologic layers.
Amargosa Valley resident Linda Gilliland enjoyed the enthusiasm of the groundwater experts.
“The presenters were excited about what they were doing and knew their subjects very well,” she said.
Highlighted at the open house this year was the success story at Frenchman Flat, a groundwater characterization area that was approved by the state to enter into long-term monitoring, the final stage of the NNSS groundwater characterization strategy. This significant achievement was outlined in several displays at the open house. Other key themes were the science of groundwater investigation and how public water supplies are kept safe from the effects of historic underground nuclear testing.
Attendees had the opportunity to sign up for a groundwater-focused tour of the NNSS, scheduled for later this year.