1

FOR PRESS:

N.D. 23

ST 4TELIE NT BY THE MINI ST _;R 'OR NATIONAL DEV ::,i OPI-. 11T (Hon. D.E. Fairbairn, D.F.L. , %:I.P. )

CAPE ic a ^ FD-2., EiTFISIBILITY TALKS

E JIBARGOED EL ARGO. D ELE3ARGOED

NOT FOR PUBLICATION BY ANY I.1EDIA BEFORE MIDNIGHT L.S.T .

FRIDAY F BRUiDIY 14TH, 1969 .

Representatives of the Australian Atomic Energy

Commission and the United States atomic iergy Commission

met on Friday, February 14th (local time) in the Nevada Operations

Office of the USAEC to discuss considerations associated with

a joint study of the feasibility of using nuclear explosives to

form a harbour at Cape Keraudren, in ': estern Australia.

The United States formally -,greed earlier this month

to an invitation from the Australian Government that the

USAFC participate in the feasibility study.

In agreeing to the proposal, the United States welcomed

it as pointing toward a possible peaceful application of nuclear

technology which might contribute to progress for the potential

benefit of many nations.

The Australian group at the talks in Nevada was headed

by the Australian co-ordinator of the feasibility study, and

Chairman of the Australian Cape Keraudren Technical Committee,

Dr. 1`_.R.11.  ilson, and included the Atomic Energy Commission

attache in the Australian Embassy at Vfashing ton, Mr. Michael Farrell.

The United States co-ordinator for the feasibility

study, TIr. John S. Kelly, headed the American group at the talks.

The American representatives also included Mr. Carl R. 'i'.erber,

Assistant Director of the USAEC t s Division of Peaceful Nuclear

Explosives and Mr. George C. Spiegel, of the USL C. Division of

2.

International L.f airs.

The American mining firm, Sentinel Mining Company,

which plans to build a port at Cape Keraudren, was represented

at the talks by its General Manager, 1.1r. Peter R. Stork, and

]Ir. Robert B. Hope.

On Saturday, February 15th (local time), the group

will tour the Nevada Test Site and examine craters that have

been recently created there by nuclear explosions under the

United States Plowshare programme to develop peaceful appli-cations of nuclear explosions.

They will visit the Buggy crater, a ditch 865 feet long,

254 feet wide and 70 feet deep, created on March 12th, 1968,

by a simultaneous detonation of five nuclear explosives of about

one kiloton each, emplaced in a row about 15 feet apart; and

the Cabriolet crater, 400 feet wide and 125 feet deep, created

on January 28th, 1963, by the detonation of a 2.5 kiloton nuclear

explosive burned 170 feet deep in hard rock.

The Croup will also take the opportunity to re-examine

the Sedan crater, which is about 1,200 feet across and 320 feet

deep. It was created in July, 1962, by the detonation of a 100

kiloton nuclear explosive busied 635 feet deep in the Yucca Flat

area of the Nevada Test Site.

EI IJtG0LD EIvtB: RG0ED E.i.L3ARGOED

NOT OR PUBLICATION BY .ITY T,1 LI t'x BAj .'OPB I:IIDIIICHT  B. 3. T. FRIDAY, P:i BRUT RY 14TH, 1969 .

C11TBERRA,

February, 1969.

