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ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION PROPOSSD BIOPEDICAL WEAPONS TESTS 1. To consider an expertmental Site devoted primarily to studies of 2. The Division of Biology and program at the Nevada Test the biomedical effects of Medicine of the AEC and the Health and Medical Office of the DeaFi.rtmsnt,of Defense, in consultation with the Office of Defense and Civilian Mobilization, the Cepartment of Kealth, Education and Welfare, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Commerce, and the Veteran's Administration have determined that there exists an urgenk need for the further developnent of knowledge on th? biomedical and associated effects of nuclear weapons. This knowledge would augment and permit more complete evaluation of existing data; it would enable the biomedical effects of advanced vie?,wns and delivery systems to be determined or predicted more accurately; and it would yield informtion of value, from a health and safety standpoint, in connection with the operation of reactors and other applications of nuclear technology. The agencies have agreed that the program should be budgeted for and administered by a single agency (AEC) with the cooperation and
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c--s eries. However, if it i s determined that the biomedical field test program would require5or6 prime-user shots, it would be operationally difflcu!.t t o superimpose these on a regular weapon development series. associated with al in it ed number of weapon development underground shots and safety shots would permit the Nevada Test Organization t o more easily and economically fulfill the biomedical test program requirements for housing, rnesslng and necessary construction support, on a basis of less competition wich weapons development interest, Under such conditions, there would be no need for expansion o f Mercury facil:t,ies t o accommodate the estimated 1,000 t o 1,500 b:o*ec",ical test A biomedical series in 1960 7. If itis determined that expaneed bim cdi cel part icl pati on in fi eid tests requires special blomedlcal shots, apr oval of the concept at, this time woKld assist in the over - all planning for utilization of the test site. The Division of bii litz ry Application, upon final clecision as t o +,he number of nuclear shots required for the biomedical program, will solicit the aAvice of the Nevada Test Site Pianning Board on details of order of scheduling, opera%ion, fac iii ties,etc. 8. The General Manager recotxmsnds that the Atomic Energy a. Approve the concept o f detonating up tosix nuc3.ear weapons a s support for an expanded biomedical effects test program; b. lo& that the Division of Eiology and Medicine will act as Executive Agent t o budget and coordinate the planning and administration of the program; c . Note that a detailed p?ogram, along with final recommGmtions and just if ica tic n for sk0'c.s required, will be submitted tothe Commission for approval
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d. Note that t h e shot requirements will be tion of the board will be included in the report (referred to in above) that will be submitted t o e . No$, thet DOD comment, on and support of the contemplafed. acti.on ?~!.l.lbe reqliested by letter such f. Note that the Department of Health, Education and I.?ei??CFe, the ODCM, the VA, the Depmtaenl; of Commerce , and the Department of Agri cult we w ? .ll 59 advised of the action contemplated and .their 5ccp9rt will be requested by appr opiate letter a.ft erD XI concurrence and indication of support i s received; g, Note that the staff is consid orl rg Wa:rs sild means of n creasing foreign part ici pat j.nn, ai 16. +;hat will be coordinated with tae Department; ol" State ; Energy will be advised cf the contenplated sc tion by ap gro pri ate letter after COD concurrence and es tiw ted at $20 n!i!.iion over fiscal >-;n?,??s1950 - 11961, exclusive of the costs of the wea:mna ?,'.id the normal Camp Mercury bas iz operating oo ef s i$h55i are budgeted inthe Weapons Progran; an8 j . Note that the $12 milli c nest kn a ted to be re quir mort his program i n FY i960 was not included Inthe PY 60 Budget Freview su5mitted t o the Bureau of the Budget i n May; snd tkat any funds required in FY 1959 viould heve t o be prsvidecl within the total Comniss:lonls FY 1959 budget, since no amount has been budgeted fc r the propcsed Biomedical Weapons Effects Tzsts for FY 1959. h . Ncte that the Advisory Cm x it fee far Biqlogy i. Note that the total cost for this pnog-arn i s APPENDIX "B" - Draft Letter to Chairran, Military
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1, The Assistant Secpetary of Defense, Health and Medical, and the Director of the AEC have determined that an urgent need exists for a series of biomcdically oriented effects field tests at the Nevada Test Site. The Office of Defense and Civilian Mobilizat!on, Departnent of Health, Education and Welfare, Department cf Agriculture, Departvxnt of Commerce, and Veterans Ad!?lnistration are in+,erestecl i n suon a series. The Advisory Conn;if,tee for Biology and Eleclicine has reviewed this propoeal in detail an8 fully supports the need for such tests. The progrem recommended would require the det on atl on of up t o six n uci ear devices with yields 02 between 2 and 40 k t ; however, no shot wov.lrl be fired for tho proposed test program unless it can be shown that it i s ab sol vt ely nccesssry tout lli zea field nuclear exp imi on to obtain th s needed results ; nor would any such shocs be fired unless it i s determined chat shots proposed for weapons development purposes cannot fulfill the biomedical program's objectives. The time necessary for evaluation of existing informztion and the design of specific exaeriments preclude holding the tests Division of Biology and Medicine, 2. The objectives of this psogram include: evaluating the biomedica.1 deta developed i n japan as they relate to more recent and cur sent field cn6 laboratory results, proceeures and criteria. A continuation of work begun during Operation PLUM3BOB. b . To provide additional bio aed ical data on blast and multiple injury effects on mirnals inthe open and in a variety of s lie lter s.Such data are essential in establishing cri tert a for acceptable shelter and a . To establish the soundest basis possible for
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c . To study the eff ecf s of massive whDle body bomb gama ami bomb neutxaon doses on both large and small animals, t o cotnp?pai*eresponse of various body sizes and species; and t o compare axte effects froa doses of short dur atl on to those effects observed from longer exposures i n the d. To a ea sure prompt gama and prompt neutron radiation a3 a funct!.cn of distance and angular t o study depth dose radiation and t o determine shielding factors in various materials and e . To develop additional data essential for dealing with radioactive fallout. Pu:~. advantage wi;l be taken of all shots to document and meg the f sll out deposition patterns, stuCy the ecology oft3e area and the b1o:ogical availability and uptslcn o f i?a8.i.oof prongt gama and neutron radiation ; animals, require the detor.at,ion of nuclear devices with well in advance of the ops rational pe?iod. Furthsr, cor.?fsten% with weather and safety requirements, they may be fired withCn specified time periods on selected dates, Experience has shown that most weapon development devices only partly fulfill these requirements. The weapons laboratory must necessarily,asthe End 2aQe of firing (cons!.stent with safety) and, t o scme degree, acceptance of other useTsI experiments. Inthe pas$, some for military objectives including a few biomedical experiments. These MET shots have been few i n numbsr i n comparison tothe development shots.Participation by biomelical programs has been limited by lack of infermation on shots to be fired sufficiently i n advance t o permit proper advance plaiiniizg and budgeting. The demands ofthe developmental program introduce a ' serious loss of
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;- flexibility In the executim of biological experiments undertaken jointly with a weapons developmen5 shot. Therefore, the proponents of the program desire to be prime users of the shots required, and would prefei- to fire the shots as a separate for conduct at EPG). 6 . Acceptance of this program offers an opportunity for the U. S. to assist friendly nations in learning first-hand about effects of nuclear weapons. It also offers the opportunity for theae nations to test components of their medical pZnns and s defenoe countermeasures. It is recognized that strong scntisents against nuczear tests introacce uncertainties for future test programs and raise difficult public relations prob;em. Hmever, assuming no appropriate international agreemmts have been concluded, and that the U. 3. will be contlnt;!.ng i t s test prograrn in 1960 and 1961, it I s proposed, within the limits of security, to have a maxinm participation of foreign govemnents. Identification of a special series of weapons detonations for the purpose of furthering man’s knowledge of nuclear effects, open to world-wide ptlrticlpation and of benefit to all mankind, should offset many of the objections to the detonations of the weapons riecessary to support this program. Effects Tests. Based on past exaerience of the Civil Effects Test Group in h’evac?a tests, it is estimated that the total costs for the biomedical program wi:3 be approximately $20 miliion spread over FY 1960 and FY 1961. This estimate includes the following costs which would be chargeabie to this test program:
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(incremental costs of housing, messing, and other NTS housekeeping costs) preparatory and developmental costs..,. 9 ,265,000 The estimate excludes the cost of the weapons and the normal Camp Mercury basic operating costs which are budgeted i n ths Weapons Program. If t h e program progresses as planned, it i s estimated i n PY 1960 and aaprcxiinately two - fifths or $8 million,will be reqxlrec? i n FY 1961. The $12 million estimated t o be required tothe Bureau of the Budget i n May. are required in FY 1959 for this program, they would have t o be To the extent that funds provided within the total Commission's FY 1959 budget, .as no amount has been budgeted for the prcposed Biomedical Weapms Effects Tests for FY 1959.
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DRAFT LT3TTER TO CXAIRDIAN, MILITARY LIAISON COMNITTEE 1. The Division of Biology and Medicine, USAEC, and the Health and Medicel Office of the Of fl ce of the Secretary of Defense in consultation with the Office of Defense and Civilian Mobilization, t h e Department of Health, Educakion and Welfare, the Department of Commerce, the Department of P-gric'Ckure, and the Veterans Administration, have determLned that them exists an urgent need for further development of IcnowleCg? cn bio ned ical and associated effects of nuclear weapons. It l-89 bcen proposed to satisfy this need through the nedlum of a btomadical test series to be conducted atthe Nevada Test Site.31ms envirljga the firing of up t o six devices i n 1960 rangSng ir. yield frcia low or fractional kiloton to possibly 40 kilotons,EZ shcirn on the attached list. 2 . The objectives of the bic ned ical test prcgrarll ir-c'udt?: biomedical data collected in Zapan. and multiple injury effects on shel5ered and unsheltered c . Study of the effects of messive vlvle-bocly boTb d. Measurement o r prompt gama and proflpt neutron radiation as a fiinction o f diosance and angKlar distribution, measurement of depth dose, and shielding plans for dealing a it hm dios ct ive fallout, a . Establishment of a s0ur.d bas!.s for evaluating the b. Cbtainir.6 additional biomesical data on blast e . Development o f adciitiona!. Csca essen zi alto 3. The accomplishment of these ob;ecti:Tes will lay a firm foundation forth core k ical and laboratory work leading to criteria of great importance to protection against nuclear effects in both peace and wartime situations.
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-4. The recommentation for afiproval of an expanded biomedical effech program is based ugon a general need for firing devices with known yields and radiation characteristics. ments, as you understand, cannot be met by developmental shots in which there is a sizable variation between predicted and actual yields. No special biomedical shot will be fired unless it is determined that it is absolutely necessary to utilize a full-scale nuclear explosion to obtain the needed results, and that scheduled developmental shots cannot meet the needs of the biomedlcal 5. Based on the recommendations of a committee regresenting the participating agencies, it is o u r plan that AEC wouid budget for the costs of the scier.tific program. The Division of Biology and Medicine will serve as the executive agent. 6. As a precedent t o the continuaticn of the development of pians, I should appreciate your furnishing me with tho views ob the Department of Defense on this program.