NEVADA TEST SITE

The following was release at 6:20 a.m., Friday, June 28:

"This morning's non-detonation was apparently caused by a failure of power to reach the device. We believe there was a power circuit at the tower. As yet, we do not know why this happened. A disarming party is now being organized, but has not yet gone forward.

"After a safety period following the non-detonation, all observers were ordered out of trenches and away from observation areas. The marines who were in forward trenches began the movement back to Desert Rock at 6 a.m.

"The 17 AEC and Naval Radiological Defense Laboratory men in a shelter at approximately 2,000 yards from ground zero are remaining in the shelter until disarming is accomplished."

(We will advise you when the disarming is completed, including the names of those in the party. The effect of the misfire on the schedule has not yet been determined.)