Rainier Mesa

File:NTS - Aerial view of Rainier Mesa.jpg

Rainier Mesa is one of four major nuclear test regions within the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS). It occupies approximately {{convert|40|sqmi}} along the northern edge of the NNSS and corresponds to Area 12.

The Rainier Mesa area consists of both Rainier Mesa proper and the contiguous Aqueduct Mesa.

At {{convert|7680|ft|m}}, the top of Rainier Mesa is the highest elevation within the NNSS.

Nuclear testing

File:NTS Area 12.png]]

File:NTS - Underground Testing 014.jpg Diamond Sculls, inside Rainier Mesa.]]

Area 12 held 61 nuclear tests between 1957 and 1992, one of which involved two detonations. All tests were conducted below Rainier and Aqueduct mesas.

Area 12 was the primary location for tunnel tests and used almost exclusively for that purpose.{{#tag:ref|Area 12 held 59 tunnel tests. There were a total of 61 tests in Area 12. The U.S. conducted a total of 67 tunnel tests, all at the NNSS.|group="nb"}} The tunnel complexes mined into Rainier and Aqueduct Mesa include the B-, C-, D-, E-, F-, G-, I-, J-, K-, N-, P-, and T-tunnel complexes, and Q- and R- shafts.

There has been some concern that Rainier Mesa is exhibiting signs of tired mountain syndrome, due to the number of nuclear detonations that have occurred at the site.{{citation|publisher=U.S. Congress, Office of Technology Assessment|id=OTA-ISC-414|date=October 1989|lccn=89-600707|title=The Containment of Underground Nuclear Explosions|page=51|url=https://www.princeton.edu/~ota/disk1/1989/8909/890905.PDF|access-date=2017-11-01}} ([https://www.princeton.edu/~ota/disk1/1989/8909.html Full Document])

Current activities

File:NTS - Area 12 camp.jpg

The Area 12 Camp was renovated and upgraded and provides a secure base camp for military units and other government agencies for conducting counter-terrorism and other exercises in the northern region of the NNSS. It provides an urban terrain setting utilizing existing commercial, residential, and industrial buildings. The camp includes 200 dormitory rooms, a cafeteria, weapons and munitions storage, and numerous operations and support buildings. The Office of Secure Transportation uses it as a training facility.{{cite news |first=George |last=Knapp |author-link=George Knapp (journalist) |title=I-Team: The Road Warriors, Part 2 |url=http://www.lasvegasnow.com/global/story.asp?s=9315164 |date=2008-11-07 |access-date=2008-11-10 |archive-date=2009-01-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090108234101/http://www.lasvegasnow.com/global/story.asp?s=9315164 |url-status=dead }}

Notes

References

U.S. Department of Energy / Nevada Operations Office, United States Nuclear Tests - July 1945 through September 1992, December 2000, [http://www.nv.doe.gov/library/publications/historical/DOENV_209_REV15.pdf DOE/NV-209 Rev 15] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061012160826/http://www.nv.doe.gov/library/publications/historical/DOENV_209_REV15.pdf |date=2006-10-12 }}

National Nuclear Security Administration / Nevada Site Office, Draft Site-Wide Environmental Impact Statement Nevada, ch.2, July 2011, [http://nnsa.energy.gov/sites/default/files/nv_sweis/environmentalimpact/v1b1/Chapter%2002.pdf DOE/EIS-246-D] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111018105613/http://nnsa.energy.gov/sites/default/files/nv_sweis/environmentalimpact/v1b1/Chapter%2002.pdf |date=2011-10-18 }}

{{cite journal |title=Corrective Action Investigation Plan for Corrective Action Unit 99: Rainier Mesa/Shoshone Mountain, Nevada Test Site, Nevada |author=U.S. Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration, Nevada Site Office |date=December 2004 |doi=10.2172/838783 |url=http://www.osti.gov/bridge/product.biblio.jsp?osti_id=838783}}

Category:Nevada Test Site