,/- SEC ‘ET \ / 1. Laboratory Directors Briefing on Operation HARDTACK Gene ral Starbird explained that the purpose of the briefing was to discuss with the Commission the plans for Operation HARDTACK and not necessarily to obtain a final Commission decision on the program. He began by reviewing the development of plans for Operation HARDTACK as set forth in AEC 952/16 - Review of Program for Operation HARDTACIC The AEC staff, he said, made the following recommendations: (1) the operation should begin no earlier than May 1, 1957, to allow adequate time for AEC preparations, (2) the number of AEC shots should be seventeen, as requested by the laboratory directors, plus one detonation of a clean weapon to which U. N. observers would be invited, (3) three specific contingency shots should be ready for detonation in the event that some of the other seventeen shots are not successful, (4) two one-point safety tests should be conducted at the Nevada Test Site during the fall of 1957, and (5) following Operation HARDTACK, two or three devices of less than two kilotoas shotid be tested underground in the tunnel used during Operation PLUMBBOB. Mr. Norris Bradbury, Director, LASL, then reviewed with the aid of charts the devices recommended by LASL for testing during HARDTACK. Mr. Libby expressed concern about the amount of off-site fallout which would result if it were necessary to detonate the contingencey devices now included in the plans. In response to a question by Mr. Libby, General Starbird said no new type of weapon has ever been stockpiled without of its type being tested before entry. Mr. Libby also raised the problem of the increasing proliferation of types of weapons being tested and stockpiled. General Starbird replied that the staff recognizes this problem. He pointed out that AEC had received requirements from the DOD for warheads for a large number of different weapons and that AEC is attempting to develop warheads which will fit several different kinds of carriers and missiles, Mr. Bradbury added that the laboratories were conscious of the desirability y of reducing the amount of testing, but said he did not believe that it would be possible under the present DOD requirements to dispense with any of the shots now scheduled, Any of the devices not tested during HARDTAC& he said~ would be delayed entering the stockpile at least *O years. Mr, Herbert York, Director, Livermore Laboratory, discussed with the Commissioners the weapons tests proposed by Live rmore Laboratory. Mr. Libby noted that if the two high altitude shots were .,.. .... .,’. :., -480 - ..;4, ,: ,.’, ... ., ‘., ,,,... ,, . . .’.’. . . . . .. :. ... . ..’.