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Rocky Flats Plant, Access Control Building
HAER No. CO-83-I (Rocky Flats Plant, Building 792A)
Note: The documentation for Building 792A also represents other access control
buildings, including 372A and 762A.
Location:
Rocky Flats Environmental Technology Site, Highway 93, Golden, Jefferson
County, Colorado. Building 792A is located north of Building 771, in parking area 71, just
south of the north perimeter road.
Significance:
This building is a primary contributor to the Rocky Flats Plant
historic district, associated with the U.S. strategy of nuclear military deterrence during
the Cold War, a strategy considered of major importance in preventing Soviet nuclear
attack. As the Cold War continued, stricter requirements were implemented to safeguard
against potential plutonium theft. Additional building space was needed to house the
equipment required for entry and egress checks. Building 792A was one of three additional
access control posts built in 1989 to accommodate the equipment and badge check
functions.
Description:
Building 792A is a concrete structure. The roof is concrete on metal
pans. The building is approximately 69 by 26 feet (1,794 square feet). Two doors are located at
each of the south- and north-ends of the building. Two turnstiles are located near the
south-end of the building.
Buildings 372A and 762A are similar in construction to Building 792A. Building 372A is
a 1,800 square foot structure and Building 762A is 4,000 square foot structure. Building
372A is located northeast of the intersection of Sage Avenue and Fourth Street. Building
762A is located just east of Eighth Street and north of Central Avenue.
History:
Building 792A was constructed in 1989 in the perimeter security zone—a fence and intrusion detection project surrounding the plutonium operations. When
the perimeter security zone was completed in 1983, three guard posts (372, 762, and 792)
were built into the inner fence to house the protective force personnel that conducted
badge checks to monitor employee entry and exit from the protected area. As the Cold War
continued, stricter requirements were implemented to safeguard against potential plutonium
theft, and additional building space was needed to house the equipment required for entry
and egress checks. Building 792A was one of three additional access control posts, built
in 1989 to accommodate the equipment and badge check functions.
Access into the protected area through Building 792A is gained by entering the
structure through the north doors; passing through a badge check, a metal detector, and
turnstile; and then exiting through doors at the south-end of the building and into the
fenced protected area. Personal property going into the protected area is passed through
an x-ray device.
Sources:
Cunningham, Steve, employed at the plant since 1977 by the
site contractor. Personnel communication, September 1997.
Richmond, Lou, employed at the plant since 1970 by the site contractor.
Personal communication, August 1997.
United States Department of Energy. Final Cultural Resources Survey Report (1995), by Science Applications International Corporation. Rocky Flats Repository. Golden,
Colorado, 1995.
United States Department of Energy. Site Safety Analysis Report, Notebook
13-Security (1995), by EG&G Rocky Flats, Inc. Rocky Flats Repository. Golden,
Colorado, 1995.
Historians:
D. Jayne Aaron, Environmental Designer, engineering-environmental
Management, Inc. (e2M), 1997. Judith Berryman, Ph.D., Archaeologist, e2M,
1997.
Index to Photographs
Main Entrance on Highway 93, bounded by Highways 93, 128, and 72; and Indiana Street; located north of Building 771, in parking area 71, just south of the north perimeter
road, Golden Vicinity, Jefferson County, Colorado.
Photograph by Timothy McGrath and Katherine T. Abeyta, Source One, site photography
contractor, summer 1997.
CO-83-I-1 – View looking south at the north elevation of Building 792A. Building 792A, at Portal 3, is one of three pedestrian access points through the perimeter security zone into the protected area.
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