Document Details

(136 K)

MEMO TO CHR RECORDS ROOM, SUBJECT: IN VIVO COUNTING ( CASE NO. 40-009 )

ECKERMAN, K F; RUNDO, J

HREX

Location - DOE/NNSA NUCLEAR TESTING ARCHIVE Address - P.O. Box 98521 City - Las Vegas State - NV Zip - 89193-8521 Phone - (702)794-5106 Fax - (702)862-4240 Email - NTA@NV.DOE.GOV

CORRESPONDENCE, LETTERS, MEMOS

1973 Mar 05

Never classified

0003

NV0700825

1994 Aug 27

2012 May 14

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