A Return to U.S. Atmospheric Tests

Now that the French atmospheric testing has stopped, there could be a build-up of pressure for a resumption of U.S. atmospheric testing in the Pacific. The U.S. Defence Nuclear Agency (DNA) maintains an installation on Johnston Atoll for the "National Nuclear Test Readiness Programme". According to the DNA 1975 appropriation hearings "the goal here is to assure a prompt capability to resume nuclear testing in the atmosphere if the limited lest ban treaty is abrogated by other parties, and/or if a national decision to return to testing is necessary".

The installation costs $12 million a year, and can be ready to operate in six months. There is nothing in the wording of the above statement to preclude the US abrogating the treaty on its own initiative.