Letter to a T Lausi, Subject: Series of Nuclear Tests Known as Operation Hardtack

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~1 US DOE ARCHIVES Director, Office of Territories Department of the Interior The Atomic Energy Commission, with the concurrence and J..1 support of the Department of Defense and with the approval of the President, will conduct a series of nuclear tests which will be known as Operation HARDTACK at the Eniwetok Proving Ground starting in April 1958 and continuing for approximately three to four months, It therefore becomes necessary to reestablish a danger area surrounding the Atolls of Qniwetok and Bikini. After studying the test program, the test conditions, and the weather patterns r~ormallyexpected during the period the test operation will be conducted) it has been decided to use a dan er area 13.kethat EWi]ichwas used for Operation REDWING in 195 , except that both the east and west boundaries will be displaced two degrees, ov approximately 12o nautical miles~ to the west. This new danger area is described in the attached proposed Notice and Chart. We believe that this change will result in a shortened We are very much aware of our responsibilities for insuring tihesafety and well-being of the inhabitants of the Marshall Islands during these tests. We are again taking every feasible ~k-” precaution to prevent exposure of these peoples to the hazards of our tests, The measures which were instituted during Operation IM)WING and which proved so successful in safeguarding the Marshall Islands people will be augmented on the basis of the experience gained during that test series and the technical ?<lvanceswhich have been made since that time. The network of weather observing stations providing information to Joint Task Force SEVEN has been increased and w1ll lead to a significant improvement in the accuracy of the basic weather data used in the prediction of fallout patterns. Wd-safe stations will be operated at Rongelap Wotho, Ujelang and Utirik. personnel at these stations The will be ready to advise and assist,

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as well as warn, the inhabitants in the event of an emergency) in the same manner as during REDWING. A noteworthy advanc@ in technique has been the installation of an IBM 704 comPuting machine at Eniwetok which will be used to speed up the computation of weather forecasts and fallout patterns. Of special interest to the Rongelap people, who were returned to their home island through the joint efforts of the Department of Interior, the Department of Defense and the Atomic Energy Commission last June is the stationing of a Public Health Service medical officer on Rongelap full time during the HARDTACK operational period. Another interesting sidelight is that a recent study by Joint Task Force SEVEN shows ‘chat,if required) the operational forces could complete the evacuation of a threatened Atoll before hazardous fallout would occur. Of course, we do not expect that such a drastic measure would ever be required in view of the constant improvement in our techniques, but we are not neglecting any possibilities. h.j In the very near future we will make a public announcement of’the establishment of the danger area. We request that until j;hatrelease you handle the danger area notice as Confidential If you have any questions concerning these matters Pl@a5e “eel free to call upon me.. Brigadier General, USA Director of Military Application

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as well as warn, the inhabitants in the event of an emergency~ in the same manner as during REDWING. A noteworthy advance in technique has been the installation of an IBM 704 computing machine at Eniwetok which will be used to speed up the computation Of weather forecasts and fallout patterns. nterest to the Rongelap p ople, who were returned to their home isl d through the joint eff rts of the Department of Interior, the De artment of Defense the Atomic Energy Commission last June s the stationing o a Public Health Service medical officer on Ro gelap full time d ring the HARDTACK operational period. A other interesti g sidelight is that a recent study by Joint sk Force SEVE shows that, if required> the operational forces puld complet the evacuation of a threatened Atoll before hazardous f lout would occur. Of course, we do not expect $hat such a drastic measure would ever be required in view of the’consta t improvement in our techniques, Ltbut we are not neglecting a,y PO,sibilities. In the very near futur e will make a public announcement of the establtstxnentof the d nger area. We request that until ~;hatrelease you handle the aqger area notice as Confidential If you have any que ~ions h~cerning these matters please feel free to call upon m . Director of Military Application/