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66330224
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[Chernobyl]
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66330224
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document
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[Chernobyl]
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Records of the Office of the Chief of Staff (Reagan Administration)
Howard Baker's Subject Files
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66330224
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1988-12-31
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1988
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1987-01-01
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1987
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Ronald Reagan Presidential Library
Digital Library Collections
This is a PDF of a folder from our textual
collections.
Collection: Baker, Howard H. Jr: Files
Folder Title: [Chernobyl]
Box: 2
To see more digitized collections visit:
https://reaganlibrary.gov/archives/digital-library
To see all Ronald Reagan Presidential Library
inventories visit:
https://reaganlibrary.gov/document-collection
Contact a reference archivist at:
[email protected]
Citation Guidelines: https://reaganlibrary.gov/citing
WITHDRAWAL SHEET
Ronald Reagan Library
Collection: Baker, Howard H. Jr.: Files
Archivist: kdb
OA/Box:
Box 2
FOIA ID: F1997-066/6, D. Cohen
File Folder: [Chernobyl]
Date: 08/04/2004
DOCUMENT NO.
SUBJECT/TITLE
DATE
RESTRICTION
& TYPE
report
re nuclear fallout from Chernobyl (w/notations), 1p
n.d.
B1
R 3/17/06 F97-066/6
B3
RESTRICTIONS
B-1 National security classified information [(b)(1) of the FOIA].
B-2 Release could disclose internal personnel rules and practices of an agency [(b)(2) of the FOIA].
B-3 Release would violate a Federal statute [(b)(3) of the FOIA].
B-4 Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential commercial or financial information [(b)(4) of the FOIA].
B-6 Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy [(b)(6) of the FOIA].
B-7 Release would disclose information compiled for law enforcement purposes [(b)(7) of the FOIA].
B-7a Release could reasonably be expected to interfere with enforcement proceedings [(b)(7)(A) of the FOIA].
B-7b Release would deprive an individual of the right to a fair trial or impartial adjudication [(b)(7)(B) of the FOIA]
B-7c Release could reasonably be expected to cause unwarranted invasion or privacy [(b)(7)(C) of the FOIA].
B-7d Release could reasonably be expected to disclose the identity of a confidential source [(b)(7)(D) of the FOIA].
B-7e Release would disclose techniques or procedures for law enforcement investigations or prosecutions or would disclose guidelines which could reasonably be
expected to risk circumvention of the law [(b)(7)(E) of the FOIA].
B-7f Release could reasonably be expected to endanger the life or physical safety of any individual [(b)(7)(F) of the FOIA].
B-8 Release would disclose information concerning the regulation of financial institutions [(b)(8) of the FOIA].
B-9 Release would disclose geological or geophysical information concerning wells [(b)(9) of the FOIA].
C. Closed in accordance with restrictions contained in donor's deed of gift.
RONALD REAGAN LIBRARY
TRANSFER SHEET
PRESERVATION
COLLECTION
FROM:
Collection
BAKER, HowArd H. JR; Files
Series I. Subject File
File Folder Title
Ross PeRot
Box Number
4
Description of Material:
MAteriAl transferred to folder "[Chennoby 1]"
(see description below)
TO: Collection: BAken, Howard H. JR: Files
Series:
I. Subject File
File Folder Title: [CheRNobyl]
Box Number: 2
Transferred by: KELLY D. BARTON
Date: 12/4/02
NUCLEAR FALLOUT FROM CHERNOBYL COMPARED TO
FALLOUT FROM A NUCLEAR WEAPONS EXCHANGE
Comparisons between fallout from Chernobyl and fallout from a
nuclear weapons exchange are complicated by the fact that a
different type of fallout is involved in the two cases. In the
case of a power plant reactor, the composition of fission
products builds up over a lengthy period of time. In a nuclear
weapon, the products are released in a millisecond of time.
For this reason, the most meaningful comparison is on the basis
of certain long-life isotopes which are particularly harmful to
the human system. The best example for this purpose is Cesium
137, which has a half life of 30 years, and is very biologically
active. A 500 kiloton nuclear weapon puts out .7 megacuries of
Cesium 137. The Chernobyl incident resulted in the discharge of
about 3 megacuries of Cesium 137. Using these figures, an
exchange of 24,000 nuclear weapons would be equivalent to
approximately 5600 Chernobyls.
Other estimates of Cesium 137 release at Chernobyl extend as high
as 8 megacuries. Using this measure, an exchange of 24,000
nuclear weapons would be equivalent to approximately 2100
Chernobyls.
These figures, of course, are dependent on the size of the
nuclear weapon -- in terms of yield. If we assume a weapon yield
of 300 kilotons, rather than 500, then an exchange of 24,000
nuclear weapons would be equivalent to approximately 1400
Chernobyls.
Thus a reasonable range of figures for a 24,000 weapon exchange
would run from a low estimate of 1400 Chernobyls to a high
estimate of 5600 Chernobyls.
The distribution of fallout would be different in the nuclear
weapons and Chernobyl cases as well. In the Chernobyl case, the
radioactive material was put into the atmosphere by a smoke plme
from the fire at the power station. Almost all of the material
landed within 1000 kilometers of the station. In the case of a
nuclear weapon, radioactive material would be propelled to much
higher altitudes by the nuclear explosion, and the fallout would
cover a wider area as a result.
DECLASSIFIED IRELEASED
NLS F97-066/6#1
BY LOS NARA, DATE 3/17/06