diff --git a/docs/source/devguide/workflow.rst b/docs/source/devguide/workflow.rst
index 5aa3088f55..e83a12979a 100644
--- a/docs/source/devguide/workflow.rst
+++ b/docs/source/devguide/workflow.rst
@@ -108,6 +108,15 @@ before submitting a formal pull request using gfortran and intel compilers
 if available.
 
 The test suite is designed to integrate with cmake using ctest_.
+It is configured to run with cross sections from NNDC_. To
+download these cross sections please do the following:
+
+.. code-block:: sh
+
+    cd ../data
+    python get_nndc.py
+    export CROSS_SECTIONS=<path_to_data_folder>/nndc/cross_sections.xml
+
 The test suite can be run on an already existing build using:
 
 .. code-block:: sh
@@ -233,3 +242,4 @@ from your private repository into a public fork.
 .. _paid plan: https://github.com/plans
 .. _Bitbucket: https://bitbucket.org
 .. _ctest: http://www.cmake.org/cmake/help/v2.8.12/ctest.html
+.. _NNDC:  http://http://www.nndc.bnl.gov/endf/b7.1/acefiles.html
diff --git a/docs/source/usersguide/install.rst b/docs/source/usersguide/install.rst
index 45e7671f52..3907769b0d 100644
--- a/docs/source/usersguide/install.rst
+++ b/docs/source/usersguide/install.rst
@@ -325,7 +325,9 @@ This will build an executable named ``openmc``.
 Testing Build
 -------------
 
-If you have ENDF/B-VII.0 cross sections from MCNP5/X you can test your build.
+If you have ENDF/B-VII.1 cross sections from NNDC_ you can test your build.
+Make sure the **CROSS_SECTIONS** environmental variable is set to the 
+*cross_sections.xml* file in the *data/nndc* directory.
 There are two ways to run tests. The first is to use the Makefile present in
 the source directory and run the following:
 
@@ -370,7 +372,8 @@ extract, and set up a confiuration file:
     python get_nndc_data.py
 
 At this point, you should set the :envvar:`CROSS_SECTIONS` environment variable
-to the absolute path of the file ``openmc/data/nndc/cross_sections.xml``.
+to the absolute path of the file ``openmc/data/nndc/cross_sections.xml``. This
+cross section set is used by the test suite.
 
 Using JEFF Cross Sections from OECD/NEA
 ---------------------------------------
@@ -491,3 +494,4 @@ schemas.xml file in your own OpenMC source directory.
 .. _validation: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XML_validation
 .. _RELAX NG: http://relaxng.org/
 .. _ctest: http://www.cmake.org/cmake/help/v2.8.12/ctest.html
+.. _NNDC:  http://http://www.nndc.bnl.gov/endf/b7.1/acefiles.html
diff --git a/tests/readme.rst b/tests/readme.rst
index 7c4d29e438..f2e2bb1c12 100644
--- a/tests/readme.rst
+++ b/tests/readme.rst
@@ -18,6 +18,19 @@ full test suite run:
 
     python run_tests.py
 
+The test suite is configured to run with cross sections from NNDC_. To
+download these cross sections please do the following:
+
+.. code-block:: sh
+
+    cd ../data
+    python get_nndc.py
+    export CROSS_SECTIONS=<path_to_data_folder>/nndc/cross_sections.xml
+
+The environmental variable **CROSS_SECTIONS** can be used to quickly switch
+between the cross sections  set for the test suite and cross section set for 
+your simulations.
+
 A subset of build configurations and/or tests can be run. To see how to use
 the script run:
 
@@ -42,3 +55,4 @@ can run:
     python run_tests.py -p
 
 .. _ctest: http://www.cmake.org/cmake/help/v2.8.12/ctest.html
+.. _NNDC:  http://http://www.nndc.bnl.gov/endf/b7.1/acefiles.html