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U.S. ATOM 70744 COMM.
BY3
TWA oil
ZNR UUUUU
R 132158Z AUG 72
FM MAHLON E GATES “GR USAEC NVOO LAS VEGAS NEV
TO MAJOR GENERALFRANKACAMMASST GEN MGR FOR MILITARY APPLICATION
1USAEC
WASHDC
AE
BT
UNCLAS RE: ZNIWETOK PLUTONIUM STUDIES
/
THIS RESPONDS TO YOUR TELETYPE OF AUGUST 3, 1972. ANY COMMENTS WE
MAKE CONCERNING THE USE OF RUNIT (YVONNE) AS A SPECIAL STUDY AREA
ALSO APPLY TO AOMON (SALLY) AND POSSIBLY TO OTHER SELECTED
ISLANDS. COMMENTS CONCERNING PLUTONIUM ALSO APPLY TO OTHER
BIOLOGICALLY IMPORTANT RADIONUCLIDES IN THE MARINE/ATOLL ENVIRONMENT.
TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS DIRECTLY:
QUESTION 1: WOULD THERE BE BENEFITS TO STUDYING THE PHYSICAL
DISTRIBUTION AND TRANSPORT OF PLUTONIUM IN THE ATOLL ENVIRONMENT
aS DIFFERENTIATED FROM PLUTONIUM IN THE DESERT ENVIRONMENT?
QUESTION 2: ARE THERE POSSIBILITIES AT RUNIT FOR USEFUL OBSERVATION
OF THE BIOLOGICAL BEHAVIOR OF PLUTONIUM IN THE TERRESTRIAL AND/OR...
MARINE ENVIRONMENT?
7
COMMENT: THE ANSWER TO BOTH QUESTIONS IS IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.
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