BX
AFSWC History Office
of the U.S. Nuclear Test Organization.
The AEC plans by 1 July 1960
to reduce the contractor personnel at EPG to about 300 people (from 450)
and operate at a total annual cost of about $5M (as opposedto$8,6M) without
significant change to the state of readiness through FY 1961.
The DOD guidance
on 22 January 1960 stated that maintaining the 12 month capability to resume
atmospheric or underwater testing at the EPG is no longer considered justified.
The study group states that there are DOD requirements which are increasing
for effects information which can best be obtained by high yield shots in the
atmosphere or. underwater.
Testing of high yield production weapons before
stockpiling them is a requirement which can best be fulfilled by testing in
the atmosphere at the EPG.
Furthermore the Air Force is conducting a
study for DASA to determine the best place to launch vehicles for outerspace
nuclear testing and one of these bases if the ZI bases are not possible choices
would: be: Johnston Island or EPG.
As for discussion of the readiness and
functions of JTF-7 in relation to current guidance the group feels that the
present state of readiness of JTF-7 is based upon a 12 month response, which
under current guidance is no longer justified.
the probability of resuming decreases,
decrease.
The group further states "As
the state of readiness of JTE-? should
Current guidance limitations on future testing and the likelihood.
of placing EPG in caretaker status indicate that a further reduction of JTI-7
readiness is appropriate.
It is recognized that there are inherent values in
~AT-