from Gen. Anderson (Commander of JTF-7) to 6 Mar. 1959 In a letter on <— _ to the proposed transfer of the Air Force Chief of Staff, Anderson refers the purpose of missile JI from the Air Force to the-Dept. of the Army for "“JTF-7 operations fram Johnston during test operations. “He notes that: it is the only the Newsreel phase of Operation Hardtack established that from which high suitable location readily available to the United States ted. altitude nuclear test detonations can be conduc " V The suitability of the areas which Island is due to its remote location from other populated to indigenous populations. eliminates most of the hazard of eye retinal burns This location also offers the additional advantages of minimum interference with international transportation and commumications systems as well as favorable weather most of the year." Going on, Anderson requests that any ' future action in regards to transfer of the Island or future use of the Island provide for other activities such as JIF~7 in order not to compromise its future utilization asa test site. A 7 March 1959 letter from the Deputy Secretary of Defense (Donald A. Quarles) to Mr. McCone, Chairman of the AEC notes that in reorganizing the Department of Defense and planning for a greater consolidation of etomic weapons activity in AFSWP the advisability of maintaining STE? on a permanent basis is becoming questionable in light of the current test moratorium. He states that "it seems probable that significant economies might accrue through transfer of the Task Force to the APSWFcic weapons project under the new terms of reference. Onthe other hand, the possibility that future tests might have to be conducted on very short notice : . _ : wv argues for the maintenance of the Joint Task Force on an active status. . O