ERNEST ORLANDO LAWRENCE
BERKELEY NATIONAE LABORATORY
ARCHIVES AND RECORDS OFFICE
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402487
Defense Nuclear Agency
eet
Public Affairs Office
Washington, D.C. 20305
January 1989
Subject:
Nuclear Test Personnel Review (NTPR)
Since 1978, the Defense Nuclear Agency (DNA) has been conducting a major program
to identify the approximately 200,000 Department of Defense (DoD) military and
civilian personnel who participated in some 235 nuclear tests that were
conducted during the atmospheric test series, primarily in Nevada and the
Pacific Ocean.
This NTPR program has involved intensive, high priority research
of the broadest scope. Managed by a special office at DNA that is dedicated to
identifying all such veterans and providing them with the best available
estimates of radiation exposure for each, program personnel have compiled a
roster of DoD personnel
involved in the atmospheric nuclear tests.
In addition,
program personnel have developed a history of each atmospheric nuclear event
that involved DoD participants, collected and analyzed all recorded dosimetry,
and provided calculated doses in cases where recorded doses are unavailable or
are incomplete.
The program has also supported studies to ascertain whether
adverse health effects are being experienced by test veterans that could be
attributed to the tests.
An extensive public outreach program has been conducted to insure maximum
interface with the thousands of test participants, to share with them the vast
amount
of
data
that
has
been
collected
on
their behalf,
and
to
advise
them of
the specifics of their individual involvement and radiation. exposure history
insofar as can be estimated from available records.
Over 100 archives
nationwide have been researched for relevant information; a well organized and
easily accessed Coordination and Information Center has been established in Las
Vegas, Nevada; over 40 historical volumes and more than 25 analytical reports
have been developed to provide details of each test and operation; and a reading
room has been established at DNA Headquarters to assist in making these data
available to the public.
All NTPR reports also have been placed in libraries
throughout the country as well as at Veterans Administration (VA) offices to
allow
ready
access
to
these
important
documents.
To
date,
over
60,000
participants or their representatives have made personal contact with the
program and have received a letter containing all the information that the NTPR
has located on their participation.
These contacts also have been followed up
with personal letters,
which provide the latest information and current
important developments.
A major objective of the program is to assist veterans in obtaining information
for their VA claims regarding their exposure to ionizing radiation at
atmospheric nuclear tests.
DNA has supported and continues to sponsor several
important studies conducted by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) to
determine whether there is an unusually high incidence of mortality among
nuclear test participants.