sEgRet
eighty meters in the immediate areas of the shots. General Starbird
commented that these ships would cost approximately $1 million to $2
million. In response to a question by Mr. Strauss, Dr. Shelton said
that these ships had been equipped for use in Operation REDWING and
that it is not practical to consider equipping smaller ships.
General Starbird commented on the additional information
requested by the Department of Defense on fallout in the intermediate
areas and said that the use of radioactive tracers, the B-50 airplanes,
and other high-altitude airplanes would provide this information,
He added that the cost of these experiments would be approximately $6
million, but that neither the AEC nor the. DOD are sure of available
funds at this time. General Starbird said consideration is also being
given to other experiments involving rockets and ships to collect fallout
data, He pointed out that the question of funds for the use of rockets
does not require an immediate decision. However, the Department of the
Navy has requested an answer by July 31, 1957, concerning the use of the
two drone ships since the Navy plans to place these ships in the reserve
fleet at.an early date. In response to a question by Mr. Strauss, General
Starbird said the Department of the Navy has indicated that funds are not
available for these two ships but that this matter is still being discussed,
Mr. Libby commented on the importance of establishing a
reliable fallout program for Operation HARDTACK and said he believed
the program outlined is a reasonable one. However, he added that he
would prefer that it be expanded if sufficient funds were available,
During discussion of these experiments, Mr. Libby commented
on the total fallout expected from Operation HARDTACK and said the
fallout program for this test should be at least as comprehensive as that
for Operation REDWING. Mr. Graves said that two other activities
in the fallout program would consist of land stations close to the actual
test area and a number of vessels such as tugs, destroyers, and LST's
which would be stationed in the fallout area.
General Loper remarked that the major problem of the DOD with
respect to the proposed fallout program concerns funding. He added that
available funds in the DOD for this program are not sufficient to meet the
cost of the program to the DOD.
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