First LASL shot.

16 September

¥

by
Soviet Union had carried out 12 atmospheric tests

17 September

this date.

eptember — 4 l

US Secretary of Health, Education and

Welfare, Abraham Ribicoff, reports sharp

-

:

aad

rise in fallout over eastern and northern ~ ™.
parts of US but says it does not pose public health danger "unless radiation levels
of this range are sustained over a long

.
“4

(unclas.)

,

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period of time."

On 18 Sept. 61, Gerry Johnson sent a draft paper entitled, "Nuclear Test
Program," to the Deputy Sec. of Defense.

The paper has been coordinated with

DDR&E and DASA and apparently is the same as a draft to be presented to the AEC

for approval immediately.

} 5

If approved, apparently the paper would go to the

National Security Council who requested such a study by NSA memo No. 87.

eptember

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There is a great deal more discussion in these files but now I start getting
into an area where we have plenty of documentation in other files, from

other sources,

so! will just mention a few things.

An 18 September, Memo in the NVOO files documents the facts that LASL

Py|

is interested in further geological surveys at the Test Site, not as ta what

they might have to do with suchas the Christmas Tree concept, but for

yA

. very decp hole sampling down to 6000 fect in Arca 3 and also deep
He 4f
holes in other areas suchas Area 15. The purpose of these discussions
and requests for surveying is to locate areas that might be feasible sites
for higher yield tests and just to learn more about the geology as well as to

avoid the sround water problem in certain areas.

Select target paragraph3