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pool of water seems to have vented into the cavity or tunnel, causing ¢ontaminated steam to permeate that entire tunnel system.
This may delay work
in that tunnel complex for a few weeks.
|
It is important to recall that nuclear technology is a rapidly changing
science -- that surprises are in store.
It is important that our opponents
not be the ones to make the first major discoveries and we can assume that their
present test series include testa of the advanced ideas they have been able to
develop over the past three years.
It is also important to recall the major
surprises the United States has had in every test series, ond that major steps.
can be taken only by testing.
The present Sovietteste could easily put them
ahead of the United States in important areas, and by testing above the surface
with large yields they have a substantial advantage in ease of experimentation
end rate of progress under present circumstances,
In the past the Atomic Energy Commission - Department of Defense in conducting their experiments on the surface, underground, in the atmosphere, and
in the oceans have developed operational procedures which have assured the
public health and safety.
These were accomplished by appropriately controlling
areas of fallout or other disturbance, by development of reliable prediction
methods, by using explosive yields as small as possible consistent with the
experimental objectives, and by limiting the number of explosions to these
required for development or effects data.
A great deal can be accomplished to
Nok
limit contamination through the firing of scaled-down versi x
od
The safety record is extraordinary,
en
wee
——
ee eee
Future tests will be given the same careful consideration as in the past. The
amount of radioactivity released will be limited to a minimum and in all cases
will be very much below the concentrations at which there {s judged to be a
public health and safety hazard.
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