APPENDIX
SAFETY PROCEDURES AT THE NUCLEAR
TESTING SITES
NEVADA TEST SITE
Generali
The safety programs and procedures described below were
in use during atmospheric tests at the Nevada Test Site. Since
the signing of the Limited Test Ban Treaty essentially all of
these programs remain in effect, but generally at a reduced
level, thus providing for a continuous monitoring of persons
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and the environment for documentary purposes, and assurance of a nucleus of well trained personnel (fig. 9).
The health and safety of persons was the major consideration in the original selection of the Nevada Test Site and this
continues to be of paramount importance during the conduct
of nuclear tests. An exhaustive search was made before the
Nevada site was selected as the most suitable one. It originally contained 600 square miles (later expanded to about
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1,290 square miles) adjacent to the U.S. Air Force Gunnery
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Range of 4,000 square miles. For purposes of general safety,
as well as security, the Test Site was and continues to be closed
to the public. Safety of personnel was and is further assured
by aerial and surface surveys made prior to each detonation
to determine that no one had wandered into the area.
Beyond these controlled areas are wide expanses of sparsely
populated land, providing optimim conditions for maintenance
of safety. Although the area is quite sparsely populated the
individual resident has been given full consideration. Radiation monitors have been present during times of testing and
there have been occasions when residents have been relocated
for a day or so to insure fully their safety. Persons relocated
have received financial remuneration for such movements.
There have also been occasions when persons have been asked
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to remain indoors for a few hours to reduce the radiation dose,
although the out-of-door exposure would have been far from
hazardous.
Before each and every nuclear detonation at the Nevada
Test Site, an Advisory Panel of experts weighed carefully all
of the factors that insured safety.
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On the panel were repre-
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