22 « The Containment of Underground Nuclear Explosions Photo credit: David Graham, 1988 Tunnel Entrance radioactive material being detected offthetestsite. In the case of late-time release, however,the test will be announced only if radioactive material is detected off-site. Starting with Trinity, names have been assigned to all nuclear tests. The actual nuclear weapon or device and its description are classified. Consequently, test planners assign innocuous code words or nicknamesso that they may refer to plannedtests. Early tests used the military phonetic alphabet (Able, Baker, Charlie, etc.). As more tests took place, other names were needed. They include namesof rivers, mountains, famousscientists, small mammals, counties and towns, fish, birds, vehicles, cocktails, automobiles, trees, cheeses, wines, fabrics, tools, nautical terms, colors, and so forth. DETONATION AUTHORITY AND PROCEDURE The testing of nuclear weapons occurs under the authority of the Atomic Energy Act of 1946 (as amended in 1954), which states: ‘The development, use, and control of Atomic Energyshail be directed so as to make the maximum contribution to the general welfare, subject at all times to the paramount objective of making the maximum contribution to the common defense and security.” The act authorizes the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission (now Departmentof Energy), to **con-