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Article: Pentagon to Curtail Electromagnetic Tests; Environmental Impact Study Required for Experiments Involving a Type of Radiation
- Article from:
- The Washington Post
- Article date:
- May 15, 1988
- Author:
CopyrightThis material is published under license from the Washington Post. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Washington Post. (Hide copyright information)
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The Defense Department, under a legal agreement reached Friday
night, must stop or moderate its electromagnetic pulse experiments at
laboratories in Virginia, Maryland, Alabama and New Mexico until the
government determines whether the energy is harming people and
wildlife.
Electromagnetic pulse (EMP) is one type of radiation generated by
nuclear explosions.
The Pentagon has been simulating EMP to determine how to protect
the circuitry in its planes, tanks and ships from being disabled by
it.
The Soviet Union, according to the Pentagon, is far along on a
"zap gun" that would use EMP radiation to kill troops and disable
vehicles, and the Pentagon is interested in developing a similar ...