xT
of the above procedures some ground crew personnel might exceed the
established test limit of 300/mr/week or 3.0 total, We will keep
careful records, however, and insure that no individual receives dangerous
dosages of radiation and feel confident that by using these new procedures
during PLUMBBOB we will accomplish the dual purpose of sponsoring a more
realistic attitude toward exposure to radiation within the Air Foreeand
simplifying and economizing test operations."
Immediately following receipt of the above communication, Dr. Plank
of Los Alamos conferred with Colonel Kieffer and advised Dr. Graves, in
detail, concerning the conversation,
-
I found that Kieffer simply could not understand
the philosophy which regards every radiation exposure as.
injurious but accepts minimum exposures for critical jobs.
« « I find Kieffer's approach to be extremely discouraging,
I would like to recommend that he be informed of the
following facts of life:
@e That the aircraft are assigned to support our
requirements for bomb cloud sampling and would not
otherwise be participating in test operations,
b.
That there would appear to be no reason why their
use in sampling should be required to support some Air
Force objective , particularily when it is clear that the
two purposes are not compatible,
c. That the ARC Test Manager supports a philosophy .
of minimal exposure for critical jobs within limits
established by competent scientific authority,
ad. That all of the precautions have been found
to be necessary for the operational management and
accurate technical control of the radiation exposures
of the people concerned.
ee
That our experience indicates that the discard
of any of the precautions is a movement back toward our
SANDSTONE experience in which people were, injured, and
237
SWEH -2-003),
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ay eee