—_* HEADQUARTERS JOINT TASK FORCE SEVIN Washington 25, 0. C. 5=3/903 729.3 SUBST: TOs 30 July 1953 Radiological Hazards in the Marshall Islands Area During Operation CASTLE - Commander in Chief U. S. Pacific Fidet e/o Pleet Post Office San Franciseo, California 1. References: &. Report, "Radioactive Debris from Operation IVY," New Yorks Operations Office, AEC, NYO=4522, dated 28 April 1953. be Mscusaions detween Commander Joseph L. Hall, this heade quarters and Captain Charles B. Martell, during February 1953. 2. Reference la presents basic information relative to the radice legical hazards intreduced into the Pacific area as @ rasult of Oper ation IVY. Reference lb involved a discussion on behalf of the cognisant teehnical section of this headquarters relative to the desirz<- Uility and need on Operation CASTLE for atomic cloud trecking outsids the immediate danger ares, sampling of drinking wator on distant atolls and evecuation of native populations. 3. AS & result of the discussions indicated in reference 1b and on the substantial radiological documentation of reference la, this headquarters docs not plan to mount spocial offorts ia sup= port of the ahowe listcd safoty moasurcs during Operation C.STLE. Ig appears that it woald bo unrealistic to assume health hazards of & meiitade conjoctared or anticipated during thy planning for Oper atioa IVY. In addition, sconemy of forces and oquipment, zespecis lly im view of the recent reductions in fiscal yoar 1954 service budgcits, Gstate a policy of austority in al] phasca of tha operstion. .6 a consequence, al) CaSTLS Operations haves bean roduced oxcupt whoro poseitive evidence indicates a reasonable need for a mior effort. ke Although tho itoms in question ire not progriamad 7a speciil tee operations during CiSTLE, certain other aspacts of thu mdiclogienl safety pion do provide a ronsonmable and esfe compromise. Specifically, these are sa follows: a. Keference cloud tracking, 20 effort will bo mado to Incl 1 to TAB "C" Set