Project Gasbuggy Nuclear Explosion Site Information
Location
Farmington, New Mexico
The Project Gasbuggy site was the location of one of the nuclear test explosions conducted as part of the AEC’s Plowshare program that was initiated in 1957 to develop peaceful (industrial and scientific) applications for nuclear explosives. Drilling for this operation began on February 11, 1967. On December 10, 1967, a 29 kiloton nuclear yield device was detonated in an underground shaft in natural gas and shale deposits at the Gasbuggy site. The test was conducted to determine whether nuclear explosives would stimulate the release of natural gas not recoverable by conventional methods. The operation ended in 1973 and the site was on standby until cleanup began in August 1978. A second shot scheduled for this site, named “Coach” was canceled due to the fact that the Gasbuggy shot resulted in a venting to the atmosphere.
Type of Facility
- Department of Energy
Covered by EEOICPA
- Part B and Part E
EEOICPA Covered Years
- February 11, 1967-1973
- 1992-Present (remediation)
DOE
DOL
- Tracking your DOL Claim Status
- Advisory Board on Toxic Substances and Worker Health
- Ombudsman’s Office
- Resource Center
- DOL Case and Claim Statistics
- Site Exposure Matrix
NIOSH
Other Resources
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