LETTER (SANITIZED) FROM MARTIN M. TEASLEY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP01-00569R000100020059-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 6, 2009
• Sequence Number: 59
• Publication Date: January 2, 1981
• Content Type: LETTER

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D ServicesW National Archives ana
Administration Records Service
1981
CIA Historian
203 Key Building
Washington, D.C.. 20505
Dear
Dr. Jack Holl, Chief Historian, Department of Energy, has
requested a copy of the following CIA classified document
for use in preparing an unclassified history of the Atomic
Energy Commission:
Memorandum, Herbert Scoville, to Director, Central
Intelligence, May 11, 1957, (2 pp.) SECRET
We have, therefore, transmitted a copy of this memorandum to
your office for review and release to Historian's Office,
Department of Energy. You may communicate-directly with
Dr. Holl regarding this item. Please inform the Eisenhower
Library of the action taken by the CIA on this document.
Sincerely,
MARTIN M. TEASLEY
Acting Director
Dwight D. Eisenhower Library
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January
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12 1~'Y "57
Fir: Director, Ocntra1 Into-lligence
Tt?a~~`_'OH Deputy Director/intelligence
S"BJE"T : Effectiveness of Nuelear Test D tection System
1. Thus 's Scr :,for-r-~tion only.
2. The rreseut ..:,rle r' test r1^';ect?~^rl c. zte h c P. very ha rh
nrobahility of de4;c-rt,- f' 'tonir ?S5 t} i ^} 9 T'af:{.e tha 7('' _?n
as lens as tho det~..ction occ1 rs ..en.' the surface of the
earth. As the yield is decreased below 20 KT, the certainty of
detection falls off. The lowest yield Soviet test detected to date
was about 3 Y.T. The probability of detecting shots with yields
less than ] R:T is quite small.
3. If the height of burst is increased to altitudes above
about 30,000 feet, the probability of co]iecting a sample of radio-
active debris falls off so that these high altitudes it might be
difficult to prove that the explosion picked up by the acoustic
system was really a nuclear test. For burst altitudes of 100,000
feet or greater, it is presently uncertain whether any acoustic
signal will be detected. This point is scheduled to be chec!.ed in
the next U. S. series of tests in the Pacific. However, for any
nation to conduct a weapons develop-nent program by tests at these
extreme altitudes is very unlikely.
!. At the present time, the United States detection system
is aimed at tests within the USSR and therefore might have loop-
holes for detecting tests in the Southern Hemisphere. Hov'ever, we
believe that ccnventior.al intelligence would probably give an
indication of any Soviet tests in these areas.
C Some of the c-~nfusion as to the effectiveness of the test
detection system has r~,cu:? ted from the stni?cner ;, the Perr:,:da
Coo runicue that "a t'.et limitation ag:ee^-ent could not be effectively
enforced for technical reasons nor cou.l.d breaches :,f it be surely
detected". This statefient referred to the specific test limitation
being discussed at that meeting; i.e., a test limitation on the
numbers of megatons of fission products which c-,,,l " d he released
annually. Pleceuse of the great difficulty in measuring accurately
the total. fission products in the atmosphere, it is suite true that
the violation of such a test limitation could not he proven.
STAT
/GJ- W r:; v1! V VV 113
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SUBJECT: Effectiveness of nuclear Test netection System
Unfortunately the Bermuda statement has been rather broadly used
without an understanding of the limited sivaation to which it
applied.
6. In summary, I believe that we are reasonably certain of
detecting all Soviet tests greater thar. 20 KT. On the other hand,
I believe that the Soviets can not, with any reasonable degree of
assurance, conduct a covert nuclear test of yield greater than. a
ferr T.
HFRE f'T SCJVILLE, JR.
Assi:3ant Director
Scientific Intelligence
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7 January 1980
MEMORANDUM FOR: Chief, CRD
FROM ; CIA History Staff
SUBJECT : Request for declassification of
May 11, 1957 memo from Herbert
Scoville, Jr., to Director, CIA;
(attached)
The attached letter from the Acting Director
of the Eisenhower Library and related documents are
being forwarded to your office for declassification
review. We request that, if possible the memo be
declassified for use in the AEC unclassified history.
Following a decision by your officers to either
retain or leave the classification of the document in
question, the History Staff will notify the requestor
of your ruling.
We would appreciate having your decision by
30 January, 1981.
CIA History Staff
203 Key Bldg.
Encs: a/s
0-Addressee w/att
-R$ Chrono
-File
SECI T
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16 January 1981
MEMORANDUM FOR:
ATTENTION:
FROM:
CIA History Staff
CRD, Intelligence Branch
SUBJECT: Request for Declassification of May 11, 1957 Memo
from Herbert Scoville, Jr., to Director, CIA
Upon examination by this reviewer and OSWR/NED officials, we are
pleased to tell you that the decision was reached to declassify the subject
document. You may proceed to notify the requestor of this decision.
AU tNI A "W?W~ -910 - INTERNAL USE ONLY
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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20505
STAT
Dr. Jack Holl
Chief Historian
Department of Energy
Room 7G033
Forrestal Building
Washington, DC 20585
23 January 1981
Dear Dr. Holl:
The CIA Historical Staff received a letter dated 2 January 1981,
from the Acting Director of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Library,
Martin M. Teasley, requesting our review for release of the
attached CIA originiated document: Memorandum, Herbert Scoville,
to Director, Central Intelligence, May 11, 1957, (2 pp.) SECRET,
sub: Effectiveness of Nuclear Test Detection System.
The attached memorandum has been declassified for your use in
preparing an unclassified history of the Atomic Energy Commission.
Attached for your information is CIA's Access Policy Concerning
Presidential Libraries (revised 12 July 1977). The usual caveats
.concerning CIA review prior to declassification, downgrading,
or publication of material from CIA originated documents in
any UNCLASSIFIED publication apply.
A copy of this communication has been sent to Martin M, Teasley,
Acting Director, Dwight D. Eisenhower Library, and to Mr, R.
A, Jacobs, Acting Assistant Archivist for Presidential Libraries,
NARS.
Distribution:
0-Addressee w/att
1-Ben Evans, 7E13 Hqs
1-HS Chronol/
2-File
1-M.M. Teasley DDE. Lib
1-R A Jacobs,NARS
Sincerely yours,
Dr. Roberta S. Knapp
Acting Chief,
Historical Staff
203 Key Building
Washington, DC 20505
Attachments:
As stated
UNCLASSIFIED
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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Martin M. Teasley
Acting Director
Dwight D. Eisenhower Library
Abilene, Kansas 67410
23 January 1981
Dear Mr. Teasley:
The attached copy of my letter to Dr. Jack Holl, Chief Historian,
Department of Energy is in response to your request of 2 January
1981, to the CIA Historian asking for review and release to
Dr. Roll of the CIA originated document enclosed with your letter.
The document in question is: Memorandum, Herbert Scoville, to
Director, Central Intelligence, May 11, 1957, (2 pp.) SECRET,
sub: Effectiveness of Nuclear Test Detection System. It has
been downgraded to UNCLASSIFIED by the appropriate CIA component
for 'Dr. Roll's use in preparing an unclassified history of the
Atomic Energy Commission.
The Classified Document Accountability Record Sheet from your
library has been signed and attached.
Sincerely yours,
Distribution:
0-Addressee w/att
1-Ben Evans, 7E13 Hqs
'I-HS Chrono
2-File
Attach,?ments:
As stated
UNCLASSIFIED
Dr. Roberta S. Knapp
Acting Chief,
Historical Staff
203 Key Building
Washington, DC 20505
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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
WASHINGTON. D.C. 20505
Mr. Richard A. Jacobs
Acting Assistant Archivist for
Presidential Libraries
National Archives $ Records Service
Washington, DC 20408
23 January 1981
Dear Mr. Jacobs:
Forwarded for your information is a copy of my letter to
Martin M. Teasley, Acting Director, Dwight D. Eisenhower
Library, concerning disposition of a CIA originated docu-
ment from that library requested by Dr. Jack Holl, Chief
Historian, Department of Energy, for his use in an un-
classified history of the Atomic Energy Commission.
Sincerely,
Distribution:
0-Addressee Watt
I-Ben Evans, /E13 Hqs
~??1-HS Chrono
2-File
Attachment:
As stated
Dr. Roberta S. Knapp
Acting Chief,
Historical Staff
203 Key Building
Washington, DC 20505
UNCLASSIFIED
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