Image: U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, Nevada Operations Office, Nevada Test Site Factbook, 1969 (Public Domain)
Project Shoal was a Cold War-era underground nuclear weapons test conducted near Fallon, Nevada. It remains one of the most scientifically important single-test sites in the U.S. because of its key role in shaping how future underground testing was conducted and monitored. Data collected from the test helped advance nuclear weapons research, seismic monitoring and environmental safety practices.
Mid-1960’s: The test site was selected in western Nevada near Fallon. The site was chosen because of its hard granite geology, which differed from the desert soils typically used for nuclear tests at the Nevada Test Site. This allowed researchers to study how nuclear explosions behave in dense rock formations and how seismic waves travel through the Earth. Gaining access to this information was critical for weapons development and international nuclear test detection.
October 26th, 1963: The Project Shoal underground nuclear test was conducted under the authority of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC). The detonation occurred nearly 1,200 feet underground and had a yield of about 12 kilotons (roughly comparable to the Hiroshima atomic bomb but fully contained beneath the surface).
Post-1963: Geological and radiation monitoring efforts were initiated after the AEC, in conjunction with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), recognized that Project Shoal’s granite geology required long-term observation.
1974-1977: The Energy Research and Development Administration (ERDA) took over monitoring and clean-up efforts from the AEC until 1977.
1977-Present: Long-term stewardship and continued environmental surveillance has been conducted by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), and later, by the Office of Legacy Management.
Although Project Shoal was conducted in a sparsely populated area, environmental impacts were still significant. One of the most significant environmental concerns at Project Shoal has been groundwater protection. Subsurface radioactive contamination remained after the test, raising concerns about groundwater migration over time. Although groundwater at the site is deep and slow-moving, federal agencies initiated long-term monitoring to ensure radioactive materials did not spread into surrounding aquifers. Land-use restrictions were put in place, and the site has remained under federal oversight for decades.
Unlike the desert test sites, Project Shoal’s detonation took place among fractured, hard rock that raised questions about how radioactive materials might move underground over time and the impact of that movement. Geological monitoring by federal agencies took place in the form of mapping subsurface fractures created or expanded by the explosions and observation of ground settling or micro-seismic activity.
They also initiated radiation and groundwater monitoring to determine whether radionuclides could dissolve into groundwater, as well as to uncover any long-term public exposure risks that existed. To gather this information, scientists installed groundwater monitoring wells, studied the long-term effects of contaminant movement through fractured granite, and have been conducting periodic water sampling since the mid-1960’s. Periodic sampling helps confirm that contamination remains localized and contained, but ongoing oversight remains necessary.
These studies helped establish conservative safety buffers and land-use restrictions around the site. The Shoal site remains one of the longest-studied single-test locations in the U.S. nuclear program. Long-term monitoring also supports worker and community safety and plays a role in documenting exposures relevant to EEOICPA claims.
Workers involved in drilling, instrumentation, test execution, and post-test monitoring may have been exposed to ionizing radiation, radioactive gases, contaminated equipment, and disturbed subsurface materials. While exposure levels were generally lower than at large testing complexes, long-term health risks, including certain cancers and respiratory illnesses, remain a concern for some workers, depending on their roles and duration of exposure.
Official sources:
The Project Shoal site is an approved location for The Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program or the EEOICPA White Card Program.
As of May 2026, Project Shoal workers have received over $1.8 million in EEOICPA compensation and medical bills paid.
Official source
U.S. Department of Labor (OWCP) — EEOICPA Program Statistics
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A: Project Shoal was a nuclear weapons test conducted on October 26, 1963, in Sand Springs Valley, approximately 30 miles southeast of Fallon, Nevada. The test involved detonating a 12-kiloton nuclear device 1,211 feet underground in granite rock as part of the Vela Uniform Program, which studied how seismic waves from underground nuclear explosions traveled through different types of rock.
A: Yes. Project Shoal Site in Sand Springs Valley, Nevada, has been officially added to the list of covered Department of Energy (DOE) facilities under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA). This means workers who participated in Project Shoal activities may now be eligible for compensation and medical benefits.
A: Project Shoal Site was added to the EEOICPA covered facilities list in 2024, expanding eligibility for workers who were previously unable to access benefits for their work at this location.
A: Workers who were employed at Project Shoal Site in Sand Springs Valley, Nevada, during covered periods and who developed illnesses linked to radiation or toxic exposure may qualify for EEOICPA benefits. This includes workers involved in the nuclear test itself, post-test operations, site remediation, monitoring activities, and related support functions.
A: Covered work at Project Shoal includes participation in the 1963 nuclear test operation, drilling and construction activities, radiation monitoring and testing, post-detonation site assessment and sampling, environmental monitoring, site remediation and cleanup activities, and administrative or support roles performed at the site during covered periods.
A: Project Shoal workers may qualify for benefits if they developed covered illnesses linked to radiation exposure or toxic substance exposure. Covered conditions include 22 specified cancers (such as lung, liver, colon, thyroid, and others), chronic beryllium disease, beryllium sensitivity, silicosis, and other illnesses that can be linked to workplace exposure through medical evidence.
A: Eligible Project Shoal workers may receive up to $400,000 in tax-free compensation depending on their illness and exposure history. EEOICPA provides compensation under Part B (up to $150,000 for radiation-related cancers or beryllium disease) and Part E (up to $250,000 for illnesses caused by toxic exposure). Workers may qualify for one or both parts of the program.
A: Approved EEOICPA beneficiaries receive an Authorization for Medical Services and Benefits card (White Card) that provides access to free home healthcare services including skilled nursing, home health aides, family health aides, case management, and Healthgevity Personal Wellness programs. These services are provided at no cost through the EEOICPA White Card Program.
A: Yes! Now that Project Shoal has been added to the covered facilities list, workers who previously did not qualify can file new EEOICPA claims. Contact Trusted Ally at 1-866-286-6426 for assistance with your claim. We can help you gather employment documentation, obtain medical records, and navigate the Department of Labor claims process.
A: If your claim was denied because Project Shoal was not yet a covered facility, you may now be eligible to refile or appeal. Contact Trusted Ally for guidance on submitting a new claim or requesting reconsideration based on the updated facility list. The addition of Project Shoal as a covered site may change your eligibility.
A: To file an EEOICPA claim for Project Shoal work, you'll need proof of employment at the site (pay stubs, W-2 forms, badges, employment verification letters, or personnel records), dates of employment at Project Shoal, medical records documenting your diagnosis, and if possible, information about your job duties and potential exposures. Trusted Ally can help you gather this documentation.
A: Yes. Eligible survivors, including spouses and children of deceased workers who were employed at Project Shoal and developed covered illnesses, may qualify for survivor benefits under EEOICPA Part E. Survivors can receive compensation and may access certain support services. Contact Trusted Ally to discuss your specific situation.
A: Project Shoal Site is located in Sand Springs Valley, approximately 30 miles southeast of Fallon, Nevada. The site was selected for underground nuclear testing due to its remote location and suitable geology.
A: Project Shoal was part of the Vela Uniform Program, a series of underground nuclear tests designed to improve seismic detection methods for identifying underground nuclear explosions conducted by other countries. The test studied how seismic waves traveled through granite rock formations.
A: Nevada has numerous facilities covered under EEOICPA including the Nevada Test Site (Nevada National Security Site), various uranium mines and mills throughout Nevada, other nuclear testing locations, and DOE contractor sites throughout the state. Nevada is also designated as a Uranium Worker State under the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA).
A: Trusted Ally provides comprehensive support for Project Shoal workers including free eligibility reviews to determine if you qualify, assistance gathering employment verification and medical documentation, guidance through the DOL claims process, coordination with physicians for medical evidence, help responding to DOL requests for additional information, support with appeals if necessary, and connection to home healthcare services once benefits are approved.
A: Yes. Trusted Ally proudly serves EEOICPA beneficiaries throughout Nevada, including former Project Shoal workers, Nevada Test Site employees, uranium workers, and other DOE facility workers. We provide comprehensive support from claims navigation through home healthcare services at no cost to eligible beneficiaries.
A: Adding Project Shoal to the covered facilities list is significant because it recognizes the radiation and toxic exposure risks faced by workers at this nuclear test site and opens the door for workers who previously could not access EEOICPA benefits. Many Project Shoal workers developed serious illnesses from their workplace exposures, and this designation ensures they can finally receive the compensation and medical care they deserve.
A: The EEOICPA claims timeline varies depending on the complexity of your case and how quickly documentation can be gathered. Simple claims with complete documentation may be processed in several months, while more complex cases can take a year or longer. Working with Trusted Ally can help expedite the process by ensuring all necessary documentation is submitted properly from the start.
A: If you worked at Project Shoal and have developed any health condition, especially cancer, respiratory illness, or other chronic disease, contact Trusted Ally at 1-866-286-6426 for a free eligibility review. Even if you're not sure whether your illness is covered, we can help you understand your options and determine if you qualify for EEOICPA compensation and medical benefits.