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SECURITY CLASSIFICATION
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CONFIDENTIAL
DRAFT GEN 63 PAPER
Type 1 +
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Department
DSR 11
WO
CTB NEGOTIATIONS:
BACKGROUND
1.
NATIONAL SEISMIC STATIONS (NSS)
*
The US, with active UK support, have been insisting in the negotiations that a major provision of the tripartite Separate Verification Agreement (SVA) should be an exchange of high quality, prompt, reliable and continuous seismic data from National Seismic Stations (NSS) located in the USA and
Soviet Union. The main components of each NSS will be a seismometer, placed in contact with firm rock in a deep, small diameter borehole; a means of recording or
continuously transmitting its data signals; and devices to
guard against unauthorised tampering. The Americans are
currently developing a prototype of the quality they would
require for installation in the Soviet Union.
2.
Ministers agreed on 3 April 1978 that the UK should be a party to the SVA but should implement the provisions on NSS and on-site inspection in the Soivet Union by participation in US activities only. Ministers did not specifically address the principle of NSS in the UK or dependent territories, but the Official Group's paper drew
attention to the possibility of the Russians seeking such
provision.
3.
On 27 June 1978, in the context of a 5 year treaty, the US proposed a network, with specified locations, of 15 NSS in the Soviet Union to be installed within 2 years of
the CTB treaty's entry into force. At least 2 of these would subsequently be upgraded to arrays, 1.6. concentrations
of about 25 seismic monitoring devices. Five of the 15 suggested locations were ones where seismic installations already exist. The Soviet reaction was to propose a 2- stage approach. In the first stage, existing stations with existing equipment would be used. Upgraded equipment providing continuous, authenticated data would come in the second phase. The US and UK accepted the 2-phase framework
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