ar 7 239830 17 May 1973 _ SUSGESTIONS FOR INCLUSION IN THE ENVIRONGENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT FOR THE ENIWETOK ATOLL CLEANUP R. B. Leachman 3.f. The U. S. Development of the Islands for Nuclear Testing The testing of nuclear detonation requires testing grounds that, among other factors, are remote from populated areas. Previously, two tests had been conducted at Bikini Atoll in June and July 1946 under Operation Crossroads and, earlier, near Alamogordo, New Mexico on 16 July 1945 as Operation Trinity. However, for a continuing program of testing, Bikini suffered deficiencies in that the land STOLD WYO meruner farye enuugn nor properly oriented to the prevailing winds to permit construction of a major airstrip. | This led to the selection of Eniwetok Atoll for testing nuclear detonations, a selection administratively approved by President Truman on 2 December BEST AVAILASLE COPY 1947, The selection of Eniwetok Atoll was based on a study of possible ocean sites made by Captain J. S. Russell, USN, Deputy Director of the Division of Military Applications, and by Dr. Darol K. Froman of the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory. In regard to possible fallout, Eniwetok Atoll was well located by having hundreds of miles of open sea lying from the Atoll in the westwardly direction of the prevailing winds. 1. oN. 0. Hines, Proving Ground (U. of Washington Press, Seattle, 1962) p 8l. we Fn, Seeee: Neen dee any Agee ome et pee