“ Hadley, however,
'Qualified scientific opinion is in good agreement that the possibility of triggering a large earthquake by CANNIKIN is remote, but real. * * * Variation of technical opinion from this position is minor.' Hadley memo, p. 6.
The second seismic effect which might result from CANNIKIN is a tsunami, or tidal wave. ”

“ Referring specifically to great earthquakes occurring within the past few years in Chile and Alaska, he notes that the theoretical explanation for these events justifies a concern that the force of CANNIKIN, which would be the largest underground device exploded by man, might surpass the 'threshhold' required to trigger a great quake. ”

“ A recent earthquake near Koyna Dam in India located in an area that is not normally seismic killed about 200 people. Similarly, many small earthquakes occurred when Lake Mead was filled.' Train memo, p. 3.
Increased subsurface fluid pressure will be one result of CANNIKIN.
'the explosion will alter the pressure regime in the groundwater. The water pressure in the rocks interstices will increase due to the compaction of the ground around the cavity. * * * This increase in the fluid pressure will reduce the friction between fracture separated blocks. ”

“ Notes
↑ Guidelines for agency action are provided by the General on Environmental Quality of which Russell E. Train is Chairman. See 36 Fed.Reg. 7724.↑ As the Court of Appeals held in an earlier opinion in this case, Committee for Nuclear Responsibility, Inc. v. Seaborg, D.C.Cir., 463 F.2d 783, Congress did not intend, by approving funds for the Cannikin detonation, to repeal the NEPA as it applied to the test. ”