. I .1 iWQADA TJ!STORXN~ATION & —. ..” . Nevada Test Site II Mercury, N&ada . i. ! .. .- ;’””. .. ... , J . :h. + — — -. .“ . .. ,. .- . ,. * .,. -. -.:.:. BACKGROUND INFORMATION “: ,,- : .. on b . .- ——NEVADA NUCLEAR .TESTS -.- . >.- BEST COPY AVAILABLE . :) :; t. ‘:*:&.. ,, A swnnary of previously=.releasedinfonwtion . providing ans&s to questions concerning the need for and value of nuclear tests, past use of the continental test site, on-site opera- . ,. tions and controls, public s~fe&, and some ,m.1.. ,. phases of organization and program. ? .- , f .: .1 . .,. -.. .. Prewred by . O?FICE OF TEST INFORMATION .-; 6,. .. 1235 South Kin Street - b-.+-b .-:”‘,+ Las Tegaa, Nevada &j:,’.:::~ Reyised to July 15, 1957 .-”.. “... ).”’ l’” : i’ / ----- . .. -.— .. -—. -—-. —— -- .- ------ * — . i ... - ,. -. A large volume of official information has been is- sued concerning Nevada nuclear testing since Nevada Test Site was activated in January 1951. The information made ‘public has been contained in official publications and reports of the Atomic Energy Commission, the Department of Defense, the Federal Civil Defense Administration, other.Federal organizations> and the joint Nev~a Test Organizattin. prior to the Spring 1952 series~ the Test org~za- . tion received many requests from newsmen, from public officials, and fran representatives of Federal agencies for a compilation of officially-approved basic informa- tion to be used as a source book. As a result the first compilation of Background Information was issued during . the 1952 series. In order to meet similar requests, the information sumnary has been brou~-t up-to-date for each subsequent Nevada Series, incorporating data released offici~y in the interim period. The present Background Information is such a compi- lation. It does not attempt to be all-inclusive. Many supplementary details are available elsewhere, for in- stance in the 1957 revision of ‘Atomic Tests in Nevada,n the various semiannual reports of the AEC to Congress, snd the Government publication ‘lTheEffects of Atomic Weapons.” Suchpublications are usually available in public libraries. A All materi~ summarized here has been offieia”ly re leased previously, following security and classification review by the Federal agency with primary responsibility for the subject matter. e -i- s BACKGROUND INFOFJIATIONON NEVADA NUCLEAR TESTS Outline of Contents Maps, ,Charts and Photographs Photograph of Nuclear Cloud . \ . Inside Front Co$e Photograph ofShotBalloon . ...’.... i. Control Room within the main Control Point Bldg at NTS . vi List of All Full Scale Nuclear Detonations In Nevada. viii & I Other United States,United Kingdom, and Russian Tests. : Control Point Building at Nevada Test Site. x Control Point.of NTS from a Hillside View. b photograph ofCampMercuxy. ?. Chart of H~dquarters Agencies and Nevada Test Organization. .. ‘? Chart of Test llirector~sOrganization. .. ? Photograph ofCampDesert Rock . ..? Photograph of Underground Burst. , . Inside Back Cove Map of Nevada Test Site Vicinity . Back Cove Schematic Arrangement of Balloon Shot Area.. , . Insert Between 38 & 3 Schematic Arrangement-of Tower Shot Area, . Insert Between 38 & 3 ...., : Forward. .- ~.. , . ... ‘ Section 1. Responsibility for U.-S. Nuclear Weapons Programs . Atomic Energ Commission, Armed Forces, FCDA Section 2. Why Nuclear Weapons arid-Devicesare Field Tested. To Advance Weapons Development . Nine Developmental Purposes . Designing Experimental Devices . Need for Military Weapons Effects Tests .. Citil, Structural and Biomedical Experiments . Summary of United States Nuclear Tests by Series . 3 & Section 3. Origin, History and Value of Continental Testing . Trinity, 19f+5. First Developmental Tests in the Pacifi& . “. Selection of8Continental Site. .. .. .. NumbersandTypes of Detonations . ● Uses Made-df Individual Nevada Tests . 6 & Costs ofNevadaTests. Postponements=. ,. Operating Controlso . , . Claims ArisingfromNevada Tests . Suits inFederalCourts. , . j“. Value of a Continental.Site to National Programs . 3 AEC Weapons Laboratories . .1 - iii - A SHOT BAIX)ON AT NEVADA TEST SITE W?kQ” Page ● ● ● ● ● ● ● 11 Axmed Forces . ● *O O*** ● ● ● ● ● ● ● . 8 ✎ ✎ ● ● ● ● ● ● 11 Civilian Programs . ● ******C ● ● ● ● ● b .0 ● ● ● ● ● :11 & 12 Why an Overseas Site is Also Essential ● ● ● b ● ● ● ● Q ● \ ● ● ● ● b ● 13 ‘ Section l+. Planning and Conducting Nevada Tests ● ✍9 ● ● ● ✘ ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● 13 Origin of.a Series . ● *****9 ● * ● ** ● ● ● ● 9 ☛ ● Each Shot Justified for Technical Necessity . ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● s ● ● ● ● u ✎ ● ● ● ● . 13 Operating Considerations. ● ● ● ● ● ● ● . ● ● ● ● ● 13 Requirement for Technical Success . ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ✎ ● Public Safety Requirement. .. ● ● ● ✎ ● ● ● ✎ ● ● 9 . u ● ● Placement of Devices. ● ● ✎ ● . ✎ ● ● ● ● . ● u ✎ Placement to Avoid Contaminating Another Site. ● ● ● ● ● . ☛ ● ● ● . m u ✎ ● ● ● Hours of Tests . x . 0 ● ● . ● ● ● ● b ● 9 . u+ ✎ ● ● ● ✎ ● 9 ● ● u Division of Real Estate-and of Air . ● !’ ● ● ● ● * ● ● ● 15 Buildup in Laboratories and at the Site . ● . ● ● ● ● 9 ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ✎ ● ● ● 15 The Move to Nevada . ..... ● ● ● ● ✎ ● ● ● ● ● . ● ● ● ● ● ● 16 Pre-Shot Schedule and Considerati~ns. ● ● ● ● ● ✎ ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● 17 Weather is Major Consideration . ● ● ● . ✎ 9 ● ● ● s ● r ● Factors Affecting Last Minute Postponements ☛ . ● ● ● ● ● 9 ● ● ● ● ● ● .l’7&18 . ✎ ● 19 Post-Shot Operations. .,:“-.● ☛☛ ● ● ● ● . ✎ ● . , ✎ ● ● ● 19 On-Site Monitoring . ● ✎✍☛ ● ● ● ✎ . ✎ . ● ● . ● . ● ● 19 Cloud Sampling and Tracking . e*a ✎ ● ● ✎ ● ✎ ● 9 ● ● ● ● . 9 9 ● ● 19 AirClosurebyCAA. ● -.* ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● . ● ● ● . ● ● 19 Establishing the Fallout Pattern .** ✎ ● ● ● ● ✎ . ● . ● ● s . ● ● ● ● 19 Distant Monitoring . ● ** ● ● ☛ ✎ . ✘ . ● ● . Section 5. Training Programs and Other Activities Utilizing ● ● ● 20 Other Nearby Locations . .’. ● . ● ● ● ● . ● ● . ✎ ● ● ✎ 20 Citil Defense Training-and Technical Programs ● ● . ● ● ✎ ● ● 9 ● ● ● ✎ ✎ ● 21 Milita~ On-Site Training and Observation . ● ● ● ● ● ● 9 ✎ ● ● ● Air Crew Training and Indoctrination . ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ● ● ● ● ● ✎ ● ● ✎ ✎ ✘ 21 ● ✎ ● 21 Public Health Service Training . , . ● ● ✎ ✎ ☛ ● ● ✃ ● ✎ ● 9 Other Programs at Nevada Test Site and Nearby ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ● ● ● e ● ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ● 22 ● ● ✎ ✎ 22 The Safety Experiment Program . ● ✎ ● ● ✎ ● ● ● ● ● . ● ✎ ● 22 Li~ermore High Explosive Tests . ● . ● ✎ ● ✎ ✎ ✎ e ✎ ● ● * 9 New Technical Area . ✎ . ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ● ● ● ● . ● ✎ ● . ● 22 ● ● ● ● 22 Tonopah Ballistics Range . ● 0 ✘ ✎ ✎ ● ● ● ● ✎ . ✎ ✎ 22 Watertown Project . ● . ● ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ● * ✎ . ● ● ● . ● 23 Other Projects at NTS . ● . ✎ ● w ● ● ● ● . Section 6. The Nevada Taft Organization . ● ● 0 ✎ e ● ● ● ● ● . ● ● . 2-4 A Joint-Agency Organization . ● . ● ✎ ● ✎ ● ✎ . ● ● ✎ ● ● ● 24 ✎ ● AEC Albuquerque Operations . ✎ ● . ✎ . ✎ ✎ ✎ . ● . 9 ✎ 24 ✎ ✎ ✎ 25 Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory . ● ● ● ● ● ✎ ● ● ● ✎ ● ● University of California Radiation Laboratory (Iiivermore)● ● ● ● ● ● ✎ 25 SandiaLaboratory . ..*** ● ● ● ● ● ● ✎ 25 Armed Forces Special Weapons Project. .****- e ● . 9 ● ● ● 26 ✎ ● 26 Armed Forces Spcial Weapons Center . ● ☛☛☛☛☛ ● ● ● ● 9 AEC Support Contractors . ● ✎☛☛✎☛ ● ● . ● ● ✎ 27 ( -iv- 4 Subject Section 7. Where Nevada Tests Are-Conducted ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● . ● . ● . ● Location and Geography . .** . ● ✎ ✎ ● ● ● ● ✃ ● . ✘ . ✎ . ● Additions to the Original Site. ● ☛☛ . ● ✎ ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ✎ ● ✎ . ● Contract and Construction Date. ✎☛☛ ● ● ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ● ● ● ● ● * ● ✌ Supporting Installations . ● ☛☛ ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ✎ ✎ ● ● ✎ ✎ ● ● ● .. Camp Mercury . ● ☛☛ ● ● ● ● ● ✎ ● ● ● ✎ ● ● ● ● ✎ ● I Camp Desert Rock . ●✼✎✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ✎ .“ Indian Springs Air Force Base. ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ● ● ● ● ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ● ● ✎ ✎ ✌ . Technical Areas Within NTS. ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ● ● ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ✎ ● ● ● ✎ ✎ ● The Control Point. .*O ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ● ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ✌ ● ● ✎ Frenchman Flat . .** ● ✎ ✎ ● ● ✎ ● ✎ ✎ ● ● ✎ ✎ . Yucca*sin . .0. ✎ ● ● ● ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ● ● ● ✎ ● ✎ ✎ . Section 8.. Technical Facilities and Instrumentation ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ✎ . Purpose,.oTTechnical Facilities . ● . ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ● ● ✎ ✎ ● Technical Structures and Instruments. ● ✎ ● ✎ ● ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ . AirDrop Targets . ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ● ✎ ✎ ● ● ✎ . Test Towers . ✎ ● ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ● ● ● Balloon Winches and Winch Shelters . ✎ ● ✎ ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ . Instrumentation”and Structures . ● ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ● ✎ ● ✎ . Underground Instrumentation Bunkers. ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ● ✎ ✎ ✎ . The Control Point:”’. ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ✎ . New Instrumentation .-. ... ● ● ✎ ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ . PART II June 24, 1957 Section 9. The 1957 Test Series . .* ● ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ . The Purpose . ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ● ● ✎ ✎ ● Extent of Program . ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ✎ . 1957 Shots . ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ● ✎ V* Shot Names . ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ . Dual and Triple Capability. ● . ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ . Yield Range of a Device . ● ● . ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ● . The ‘lOpen”Shots. ✎ ✎ . ✎✍☛ ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ✎☛ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ✎ . Section 10. Balloons$ Tunnels and Rockets . ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ☛ Air-to-Air Rocket . ..*.* ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ✎ ● ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ Tunnel Shot. ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ● ● ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ Balloon Shots . ● ☛✎☛☛ ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ Section 11. Safety and Radiation Protection ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ● ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ Reduction~f Fallout. ✎ ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ Warning Procedures . ● ✎ ✎ ● ● ✎ ● ✎ ● ● ✎ ✎ ● ● ✎ Radiation Exposure Levels . ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ● ✎ ● ✎ Radiological Monitoring . ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ● ✎ Cloud Sampling and Tracking; Airborne Monitoring. ✎ ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ✎ ✎ .0 Paths of Radioactive Clouds . ● ● ✎ ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ . Monitoring Teams in Test Site Area. ✎ ● ● ● ✎ ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ● * FilmBadges . .. , . ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ✎ .* -v- -. Page _ 2W!?Q . Physicians and Veterimrian . ● . ● ☛ ● ● . ● ● . ● . 55 Automatic Radiation Reporting System. ● ✎ . ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ . ● ✎ ✎ . ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● z ‘ Other Data.