A [4 April TWX from Stewart of OMA to the labs etc. addresses the upcoming
brieting for the President's Scientific Advisory Committee.
Subject of
the briefing is current plans for possible resumption of testing. There
follows lists of devices to be tested at NTS and also to be tested either
at the EPG or over open seas. He requests LASL and Livermore comments as
well as response times for the various tests that might be more than 90
days away.
A TWX from Bradbury to John McCone, AEC Chairman on
C
[5 April addresses
the question of laboratory morale and discusses where some of the {fabor-
atory effort might be redirected during the moratorium.
(Criticizes
present uncertainty and states positive decision even for programs other
than testing would be better.)
Documentation in this time period addresses the terms of the Geneva neqo-
tiations, definitions cf various prepcsals being put forth there and notes
and discusses some of the questions of cevection of various levels of
nuclear detonations underground.
On 15 April, 1959, Bob Newman wrote a letter to Jim Reeves on “eltermate full
Sewer - -
sale underground shot locations and facilities."
The proposal is for four sites
£ two types (tunnels and holes) of containment facilities on RAINIER Mesa within
wo miles of past Livermore shots,
if Area 3 is proclaimed
tandpoint of ground water contamination.
to be unsafe from the
Newman says that the Mesa is believed
3 be the only presently developed and/or available area within the NTS which
eets all criteria.
The proposal is for four snot points at a two thousand foot
pacing for tunnel portals or four shot points at 1500 feet spacing for vertical
oles with a minimum cover of 1000 feet, known media, no contamination permissible
n ground water at producing water wells, and
tilities as well as reasanable access.
reasonably near existing roads and
He goes into the details of locations of
he tunnels and noles proposed with an accompaning map as well as specific
roblems in access, power provision, telephone lines, etc.
Only ALPHA measurements
ave been taken into account in the design in a preliminary way of these facilities
nd further diagnostics would have a significant impact.
A rough estimate of the
ost for developing the four tunnels is 57,000,00 and for the four holes is
3,000, OOO.
He emphasizes, above all, that LASL prefers to operate in AREA 3
‘ause Of the ease and economy of construction and operations and the readily
lable facilities, roads, etc.
Finally, he requests that design, necessary site
idies, and cost studies be initiated immediately for the tunnels and holes on
-NIER.
NP