for calendar year 58, in which he requested an additional test in the
atmosphere. Along these lines, ''Mr. Strauss
reiterated his concern
about the large number of weapons scheduled for testing during operation
Hardtack and recalled that the President had asked that the Commission
eliminate some of the
shots
originally scheduled.
If the contingency
shot is added, he said, the total number scheduled will be up to
again.
This, he remarked, seemed to be a reflection of the DCD's requirement
for an increasing number of different nuclear weapons types.
The
Commissioners discussed the shots scheduled for 58 and Mr. Libby
requested that the letter to the President concerning operation
Hardtack state the amount of off-site fallout which will result from the
series.''
(including
The Commission theniapproved the revised Hardtack program
tests), approved
and also approved the conduct of
during 58.
underground tests at Nevada(MILLRACE)
l-point safety tests at the NTS
This then would go into the appropriate letters for execution
authority to the President, etc.
Meeting #1327, 28 January 58:
Among the discussion at this meeting, Libby discussed the question of
avoiding detectinn of a nuclear test by placing the weapon in an earthquake
fault ,
either underground or submerged, and then having detonation in
seguence.
His inquiries of certain California seismologists had indicated
that detection under conditions would vary with the medium and it was:
felt that it wduld be difficult to detect such tests in the Pacific but not in
Nevada.
59