The next update is forwarded by John
son to Starbird on 8 June 59 and lays
gee ey
out a specific program to begin
testing with a 1 Aug. authorizatio
n and the first
shot on 1 Nov. 59 (90 days read
iness with the first shot 1 year
after the moratorium
began).
The first three shots would be safe
ty shots in tunnels I, J, and K whos
e
construction is underway and has been
authorized. The other 9 tests plus
3
contingencies which are listed would begin after the safety tests but the site
preparation in some cases has been started but in most cases requires further
authorization.
Specific readiness preparations would cost some 3.6 million dollars
in FY 59 and 5.5 additional million in FY 60 with an additional 9 million or so
needed to prepare sites for actual tests once the go ahead for testing is received.
4 of the weapons test listed are called "heavily diagnosed" shots and would require
about 9 months lead time to prepare the diagnostic experiments.
By this letter,
Johnson requests authorization be given to increase the tunnel preparations to
meet the overall readiness program which would begin new construction just about
immediately which would carry over well into 1960.
A 22 June TWX reply from
Starbird to LRL (No. 1041) states “Authorization for the proposed construction
is withheld pending an overall review of the effort at NTS now underway.
authorized construction will continue until the end of June."
Presently
Starbird anticipates
an effort of lesser scope than indicated in the Livermore letter.