18 DECEMBER 2025 WorldWide Drilling Resource® Groundwater Analysis Continues at Nuclear Testing Site Adapted from Information by the U.S. Department of Energy Efforts to document groundwater contamination caused by historic nuclear testing conducted in Nevada continue as the Environmental Management (EM) Nevada Program started drilling wells in a remote stretch of the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS). Drilling on the Pahute Mega region began earlier this spring, reaching a final depth of 2570 feet belowground before moving on to a second well and deepening an existing third well. Groundwater will be collected from all three wells for contamination analysis and compared with computer modelings. “The drilling supports future closure of the final groundwater corrective action unit at the NNSS,” said EM Nevada Program Manager Rob Boehlecke. “To do so, we need hard data. The goal is to demonstrate the reliability of our groundwater contaminant transport model results and provide confidence that the model results can support decisions leading to closure.” Between 1951 and 1992, the government carried out 928 nuclear tests at the NNSS, with roughly 90% of the tests being detonated underground. In 1989, the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management was assigned to documenting the extent of groundwater contamination caused by the tests and determining where the contaminated water is headed, as well as the flow rate. Over the years, there have been several groundwater initiatives at the NNSS. In 2016, Frenchman Flat was the first groundwater corrective action unit EM closed. The Yucca Flat groundwater region was brought to closure in 2020. The same year, the Rainier Mesa and Shoshone Mountain groundwater corrective action unit reached closure three years ahead of schedule to the result of $5 million in federal savings. In 2023, after extensive scientific analysis, the EM Nevada Program reached what is known as the model evaluation stage for the final groundwater corrective action unit of Pahute Mesa. The current drilling campaign included extensive planning carried out by EM Nevada Environmental Program Services contractor Navarro Research and Engineering. Navarro Field Operations Manager Brian Haight said protecting workers has been the top priority for the team since day one. “There has been a lot of effort focused on both safety and using the newest technology,” Haight said. Navarro worked with subcontractor Premier Drilling to use a top drive drill rig system, which reduces the need for manual labor on the rig. “We are extremely happy with the progress made. We are confident that the wells will produce quality data to support closure at Pahute Mesa,” Haight concluded. Drilling at the first site. Bits of rock, soil, and fluids were discharged into a lined sump pit at the remote location. ENV See us at Booth 1248 Groundwater Week 2025 in New Orleans February Issue Deadlines! Space Reservation: December 25th Display & Classified Ad Copy: January 1st
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