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AO CEO
STANDARD FORM NO, 64
on:
Office Memorandum *
TO
; General Starbird
Thru
+: Cactein Musick
Thru: Colonel O'Bryan\&%>
FROM
UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
DATE: January 8, 1957
\A
: Lte Colonel Schnittke.
Fee
SUBJECT: USE OF TAONGT ATOLL
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graphic and marine survey of the atoll.
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learned from Jim Reeves that the final costs may exceed this amount.
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The cost of this survey by
Seripps Institute is estimated at $18,000 although we have informally
The question of whether to proceed with the survey depends on what our
future plans are for Taongi. Marked advantages are promised for tests
conducted at Taongi, with respect to the decree of protection against
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fallout for local inhabited areas, and with respect to weather delays.
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These considerations are of major importance as the problem of radio-~
active fallout becomes more sensitive (especially if this results in
intreased use being made of the EPG) and as test operations increase
in scope and duration.
Before use can be made of Taongi the feasibility of conducting test
overations there must be determined.
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BRL IN
In addition, there are political
and economic factors which must be carefully evaluated before a decision
can be made. From the political viewpoint, the concurrence of the
Departments of State and Interior would have to be obtained before we
could expect the President to act favorably on this matter.
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Their con-
currences would involve questions of our legal position on testing in
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the Trust Territories, international pressures against nuclear tests,
propaganda efforts by Comrunist nations, and public opinion with/the U. Se
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From the economic point of view we must take into account the cost of
operations at Taongi, considering the remoteness of this test site from
the logistic base at Eniwetok, the necessity to conduct the operation
aTloat (to include diagnostic instrumentation stations), and the improvement of Taongi Atoll to establish base facilities of a temporary nature.
' The proposed oceanographic and marine survey of Taongi has for its pure
' pose the collection of data and information on which to base an evaluation of the feasibility and desirability of conducting tests there.
_ | From the long-range viewpoint on nuclear testing our feeling is that such
a survey is needed since in all probability we will eventually be forced
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to seriously consider the use of Taongi as a backup for Bikini.
The only -
question is whether the survey should be made at the present time.
If
there is a possibility that ae,will enter into our plans for HARDTACK
then the survey should be made now,
w/the expenditure is justified.
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SO:General Starbird then OMA“Files
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Schnittke
Lt. Colonel, Ord Corps
4 Attachment: Memo Reeves to Starbird w/encls.(ALOO 6-12773)
MILITARY Wd MAH
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Tn reference to the nossible development of Taongi Atoll as a
future test site, we have received the UCRL proposal for an oceano=-