Report on the Investigation of Human Radiation Research at Blue Grass Army Depot

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MEMORANDUM FOR COL SHANNON HARRISON, CHIEF, CLINICAL INVESTIGATION REGULATORY OFFICE, AMEDD CENTER & SCHOOL, FT SAM HOUSTON, TX 78234-6125 SUBJECT: Report on the Investigation of Human Radiation Research a t Blue Grass Army Depot The Blue Grass Army Depot i s composed of two facilities located about twentyfive miles apart ; one near Lexington, Kentucky and the other near Richmond, Kentucky. Both facilities were constructed in the 1941-42 time period. The Lexington facility was under the command of the Signal Corps and pri nci - pally involved in repair of electronic equipment. ?e Richmond facility was under the command ofthe Ordnance Corps and was principally involved in munit ions storage. The two facilities came under a joint command inthe 1970's. The Lexington facility is currently scheduled for closure in 1994. Each facility had a Health Clinic,staffed by one general medical officer, two t o three nurses and a laboratory technician. The mission of these clinics was to provide general medical care for active duty personnel and occupational health care for depot employees. The Lexington Health Clinic was closed in A review of records maintained at the current Occupational Health Clinic show no evidence that this facility has ever participated in any medical research involving ionizing radiation or radio - isotopes.Ms.Betty Jo Smallwood, former Head Nurse at the Lexington Health Clinic,denies any knowledge of any such records which were maintained at that clinic before closure. Employee records are periodically reviewed by the Medical Officer as part of routine occupational health surveillance.No indication has ever been found in these records that would indicate that any employee had been involved in medical experimentation with ionizing radiation. a.Mr. David Easter, current Depot Historian and Public Affairs Officer, was interviewed.He denied any knowledge of any records which would indicate that experimentation with ionizing radiation was conducted at this depot. b.Ms. Georgia Noland, current clinic laboratory technician has been employed at the clinic since 1965. She denies any participation(e.g., collecting blood samples) i n any medical experimentation. She also denies any knowledge of any equipment stored at the clinic which might have been

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SUBJECT: Report on the Investigation of Human Radiation Research at Blue Grass Army Depot 1967. He denies any knowledge of any medicines passing pharmacy which might be associated with medical experimentaGeorge Cochran, current Depot Industrial Hygienist has been the depot in this capacity since 1980. He denies any know-. . ledge of any experimentation with radioactive substances. No evidence has been found to indicate that any human experimentation with ionizing radiation was ever done atthe Blue Grass Army Depot.