‘The test site was established primarily so that the weapon
ve
re
development laboratories could field test experimental devices easily i
and quickly.
It was argued that the use of a continental test site,
rather than one in far Pacific, would provide savings in money and,
more importantly, in time of key scientists and would interfere as
little as possible with normal laboratory operations, Already we
have seen in the present series a delay of one week, and unless I am
mistaken in my interpretation of the criteria under which the test
organization presently operates and the commitments given the public,
we shall see much more costly delay, One weather scientist informed
us that the probability of finding weather conditions that meet all the
present criteria is about one day in twenty-five,
**I would appreciate receiving from the Commission an evalua-
tion of the Nevada Test Site under the present criteria for test
operations, Your report should consider whether only very small
yield devices should be tested there, leaving all substantial shots
for the Pacific where they can be precisely scheduled,
‘Please do not misunderstand me, I do not advocate taking any
real risk with public health and safety; rather, assuming that the present criteria are necessary for public safety, Iam raising the question
of whether we can use the Nevada Teast Site efficiently for anything
other than the test of very small yield devices.”’
COMMISSIONER MURRAY:
present test?
CHAIRMAN STRAUSS:
Do you think he is referring to the
Presumably.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY: Is he taking some action now?
MR, NICHOLS: He was out there.
CHAIRMAN STRAUSS: He was out there, He didn't see anything because he left before it was shot,
MR, NICHOLS;
That is quite a change in his attitude,
CHAIRMAN STRAUSS: Yes, it is a big change.
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