PROPOSED PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT
AEC ANNOUNCES DANGER AREA FOR JOHNSTON ISLAND NUCLEAR TESTS
As part of the safety precautions for the forthcoming nuclear tests at
Johnston Island, the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission today issued public
notice of a surface danger area which will be established surrounding
the island effective July 25, 1958.
On May 2, 1958, it was announced that certain short-range defensive
missiles with nuclear warheads would be fired from Johnston Island, as
part of the HARDTACK series of nuclear tests in the Pacific.
Johnston
Island is located some 540 statute miles southwest of the nearest
inhabited island of the Hawaiian chain and some 900 statute miles from
the nearest other inhabited island.
Effective July 25, all ships are cautioned to remain clear of an
area bounded by a circle of 400 nautical mile radium centered at the
following geographic coordinates;
Longitude 169° 30' 53" West
Latitude 169 39' 26" North
These coordinates are five nautical miles to the South of Johnston
Island. It is estimated that the surface danger area will remain in
effect for a period of approximately three or four weeks. This notice
is being given the widest possible distribution through marine and
international organizations.
An air danger area will be established by warnings to aircraft
issued by the Civil Aeronautics Administration shortly before the firing
time planned for each test.
This will permit maximum utilization of the
area by normal air traffic.