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t- WITHATTACNIMENTWENC4.- DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY DECLASSIFICATION REVIEW REVIEWER (AOD)u &-#+u 2. CLASSIFICATION CHANGED TO: 3. CONTAINS NO DOE CLASSIFIED~ Subject: Scientific Re-survey of Bikini. The Navy Department with the approval of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is undertaking a scientific re -survey of Bikini Atoll particularly with respect to Test Baker during the summer of’1947. The expedition expects to leave San Diego July 1 and begin operations at Bikini about July 15 to last approximately six weeks. Admiral Parsons, Chairman of the Join L Crossroads Committee, has requested the Commission, via the Military Liaison Committee, to approve Admiral Parsonsl request for the requirements of’the Joint Crossroads Committee. Commander Revelle first approached General McCormack and stated the views contained in memorandum prepared by General McCormack. a> Commander Revelle was referred to the writer, and the memorandum of Y Admiral Parsons discussed was supported with names and requirements. \ On June 6, lMr.Wilson and the writer met with Dr. Stafford Warren to discuss the Bikini expedition. At that time, a conclusion was reached that the Commission should support the expedition by authorizing and & underwriting a group from the University of ‘liashington,.Dr. Donaldson and about ten of his associates, at a cost of approximately $25,000. It was not deemed advisable at that time to agree to the inclusion in the expedition of Drs. Overstreet and Jacobson, of the University of California, nor any other radio-chemists from California, Argonne, or Clinton since it was felt radio-chemical analyses could only be carried on adequately at home laboratories in the States. On Y June, the writer explained the above position to Admiral Parsons who reiterated the need for Drs. (Werstreet and Jacobson as essential to the expedition for the supervision of the collection of samples, determination of the locations to take samples, and evaluation of the sampling work done at Bikini. It was not felt necessary to have other radio-chemists join them. The writer reluctantly agreed that if Drs. Overstreet and Jacobson can agree to go, the Commission would probably approve. l’hisopinion was checked with Mr. Strauss who indicated concurrence. However, Admiral Parsons has now telephoned again, apparently after talking with Commander Revelle, and has requested additional radio-chemists to acoompany Drs. Overstreet and Jacobson, nemiely J&. Larsen and Lt. Col. Hirsch, of the University of California, the latter of whom is assigned to Special Weapons, and two other technicians from Clinton Laboratory who have apparently indicated theywoulcl like to go on the expedition.
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Dr. Warren strongly recommended again by telephone today against any radio-chemists going on the Bikini expedition because of their lack of value in interpreting anything of a substantive nature at Bikini. Dr. Warren pointed out that considerable work for raciio-chemists was necessary this smer to carry the Conmissionts program forward, such as analyzing samples from It is recommended that the Commission approve the followins with respect to the Bikini Scientific Re-survey for 1947: of fish and other organisms. b. If agreeable to the University of California and Drs. Overstreet and Jacobson, to authorize their participation in the Bikini expedition to supervise collection of samples. Ass s ant to the Gen ral Nianager
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ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION Bikini Expedition - Navy Department I had meant to see you this morning about the new Bikini Expedition, but here is the problem in brief. 2. The Navy is sending out three ships, sailing from San Francisao about July 1, including an APA for personnel, a submarine tsnder for technical work, and an L(X for something. The expedition will.spend about three weeks at Bikini. The project is b see what is left, especially from Test 3. The Navy would like to have Dr. L. R. Donaldson, of the Unive= sity of Washington, together with a group of about ten of his people, as, members of the party. Since Dr. Donaldson is working on an UC contract, could this trip be considered a part of the contract and paid’for by the AEC? Total cost is estimated at about $25,000. < 4. The Navy also needs a half dosen rskl$o-chemists. They particu- ! larly want Roy Overstreet and Lewis Jacobson from the Universityof Cali- 0, to President Sproul. Would Mr. Lilienthal be willing to write to President Sproul? A suggested draft letter is on the way frm the 5* The Navy also needs authorization, and probably some help, in connection with the other four radio-chemists. Particularly they want to proselyte at Argonne and Clinton. In this connection, can the University of’California contract accept these half dozen people? Commander Revelle is the interested party in the Navy Departhave promised to give him answers to his questions. YOU will the time factor is urg,ent.
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Sub~ect~ Scientific Resurvey of Bikini. Ref: JC@% Ffie ~~ Serx 097 Military Liaison Cowmittee to the Atomic Energy Commission, P. 0. Box 1314, Washington, D. C. 5 June 1947 To; The Chdrman, Atomic Energy Commission, Washington, D. C. 2. The Military Liaison Committee has been informed that the procurement of radio chemists is a problem of the greatest urgency. St is uniknxtood that the Joint Crossroads Committee has inform~y approached certain individuals at the Argonne Laboratory who have expressed a desire to accompany thio expedition as rdio chemists. The Chairman, Crossraods Committee, is extremely desirous that the Commission authori%e their participation as quickly as possible in order that they may commence immediately to assemble and ship the 3. If the proposal in paragraph 7 of the basic letter is agreeable to the Atomio Energy Commission, it is recosmmnded that w I the Chairman, Joint Crossroads Committee, be authorized to deal directly with the Argonne Laboratory in making final arrangements. < For the Committee: ‘Q
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In reply refer to: JOINT CROSSROADS COMNITTEE MEMOMWUM FOR THE ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISS1ON: Via: Military Liaison Committee 1. ~~’i~$~~~~~.~ary of tho NavyBy a memorand dated 1.6May 1947 the Joint Chiefs of Sta21 requested that a scientific resurvey of Bikini Atoll be undertaken by the Navy Department during the summer of 1947 in order to complete studies and projects begun in 1946 in connection with Operation Crossraoaa. In a separate memorandum to the Secretary of War, the ‘liarDepartment wus rocluestedto coopw’- ate in this resurvey and to furni~h 8uch facilities and personnel as might be needed and could be made available. ‘lechnicilsupervision of the project WQO aasigned to tha Joint Crossroads Committee and its successor organimtion. Chiefs of Stsff.,the Chief of Naval Operations on 2 June 1947 directed the various bureaus end offices of the Navy Department to make arrangements for the resurvey and assigned operational control to the Corl!mander-in-Chief~p~~cific~eete Three vessels have been mude available for the expedition; a hrge Attack Transport {USS CHILTON APA-38), a Submarine Rescue Vessel capable of deep diving operations (USS COUCAL ASR-S), and a Landing Craft, Infantry (LCIL-615). A target date of 15 July 1947 for commenctig operations at Bikini Atoll is &opo&d. It is contempl=te~ that the work ini will occupy a period of sti weeks. 3* It is contemplated that the scientific of the expedition will includes . a. Determinations of the amount and nature of the radioactivity remaining in the water, the lagoon floor, and the reef and land structures of the atoll, wherever such radioactivity exceeds the normal level of natural.radioactivity and oosmic rays. Particular attention will ba paid to that portion of the reef between Amen and !Wsini Islands, which was covered after test Baker by highly radioactive rain falling from the ‘Base Surge’fcloud, and to the bottom sediments of the target area.
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In reply refer to: Scientific Resurvey of 1 .i.h~L Determlntitionsof the concentration and kind of radiofiativematerials in the animals u,ndplants of’the atoll and the effects of this radio:.ct:vitj’on the organstudies of organisms and reef building processes in order to gain basic information for better understanding of the possible biological effects of Operution Crossroads. d. Detsiled observations of certain sunken ships including the Smmtoga, Nagato, Pilotiish cnd Apogon~ which could not be adequately examined during August 1946 because of difficult diving conditions resultin.~from high levels of radioactivity in the bottom muds antifrom other causes, uring instruinentfiand one time rticordiagioni=tion chamber from the Nagato. Detailed analysis i.w shown tlut records from these instruments are highly important to an adequcite unaerdxnding of shock pressure ;henouena -d radioactivity concentrations resulting from test Baker. In connection with the work outlined under sub-para~~aph~ Service of the Department of the Interior, the Smithsonian Institution of Oceanography, htiveall indicated informally a desire to tuke part in the mqedition. 4. The cooperation of the Atomic Energy Commission is reque~teciin planning and conducting this resurvey. In particulm it is considered essential that Or. L. R. Donaldson end his associates of the U]iiversityof Kaahington, who are carrying out radiobiologiwil studies of fioh and other organismt?for the timmis~ion, should participate in the expedition. These scienti~ts took psrt in the work at Bikini during the suer of 1946j preliminary discussions with Dr. Donaldson indicate that they desire to undertake additional observations this summer in order to &tuclypofssible long term effects of the radioactive materiulm released in the underwater burst on the organism~ of the atoll. 5. In order to determine the distribution of different fission products and other radioactive materials and
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Subjeot~ Scientific hesunroy of hikinl the processes involved in accumulation mti transfer of these materialc ~ organimcs it will k esser~tid to have the serVIWS of seversl competent redio chmists cn the expedition. The rdiochemical tivestigaticns should be uridertekenunder the leadership of scientists competent to deal both with the chemistry of radioactive fission prod~cts and with problems of plnnt nutrition and soil chemistry. Discussions With bination of scientific abilities is very raxa. From these discussions it is evident that the outstanding S#eciiLists Jaoobson of the College of Agricul~rc of’tha Univmsity of tests at Bikini md contributed results of major importance. Accordingly, the Secretary of the Navy ha~ ra!.~~estedPresident Spr’oulo.fthe University of Caliiorni& to authorize Drs. Overstrwt and Jacobson to take 2art in the expedition. It would be very helpful if the chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission would endorse this rw.~ueatfrom tha Secretary of the Navy; a proposed draft oi a lethr for Mr. available by the University of California it is beli~ved that financial arremgements for their services tiidprocurement of necessary equipment could be Nest apodi.tiOU81y handled thru the Atomic Energy Comwissiou contract with the 7. Estim.tes of the magniiude of’th~ problems involved indicate that approximately four radio chemists in addition to Professors Overstreet and Jacobaon will be required at Bikini. The cooperation of the Commi~sion is end e{~uipmentfor their use from IaboratGries under its cognizance. If this request is agraetihleto the Commission it is proposed that detailed arrangements.tierwd~ directly between representatives of the Commission ad the Joint USN, or his representatives. (kipttin Lnglemen$s officeis