-10test capability in that area.
The 550W to the one-third containment rule which
has been agreed upon is felt to be quite safe and conservative by Sewell.
Immediate
investigation of the ground water conditions in areas 3 and 12 must take place in order
to avoid having to dehay certain of those tests, since the depth of some of tne
proposed shots is planned at the level of the ground water.
As for balloon capability,
the planning board concluded that the presently planned balloon capability for NTS
was adequate to meet the foreseeable needs.
As for the fast criticality facility,
two types of hydrodynamic experiments were discussed:
tests with no nuclear yield
war iel
imvolving fissile material; and tests vith Nuclear yield
Sewell stated "for the first type, the board concluded that no safety problemswould
result from the Operation as described.
Also, for tne latter type, the Board can-
though
cluded that no hazard would result even certain amounts of activit: would be released.
It was generally felt that even if an accident inadvertently did occur
("hed not create any safety hazard off-site,
at Mercury or in adjacent areas.
The boemd did not attempt to evaluate the political
problems attendant to such an accident, or the precautions that should be taken to
insure
hak complete containment. "
The board noted that the LASL and Livermore
jirectors are discussing the possibility of a joint committee to study and perhaps
3et guidelines for the design and operation of such nuclear experiments.
In
tonclusion, the Board gave approval to the selected site and agreed that, even though
some radio activity will be produced, the proposed facility will not create a safety
iazard.
As for Project OXCART, the board approved two proposed
rea lO.
KY shots in
It is felt they could be fired safcly with no hazard from fall-out outside
the NTS.
58
An 11 June message Crom Ogle gives comments to Sewell's statements as follows:
mem
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e wishes the wording on the ninety day readiness to be changed to cay thut it can se
AEC and Lhe Labs have not yet
e achieved rather than it will be achieved since the
i
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1
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