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Exchange of Notes (June 26 and 27, 1968) between the Government of Canada and the Government of the United States of America extending for a period of three years from July 1, 1968, the Agreement of June 29, 1965, concerning the Operation in Canada of Mobile Seismic Observatories (project Vela Uniform) [1968] CATSer 4 (27 June 1968)

E103812 - CTS 1968 No. 7

EXCHANGE OF NOTES BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA EXTENDING FOR A PERIOD OF THREE YEARS FROM JULY 1, 1968, THE AGREEMENT OF JUNE 29, 1965, CONCERNING THE OPERATION IN CANADA OF MOBILE SEISMIC OBSERVATORIES (project VELA UNIFORM)

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The Ambassador of the United States of America to Canada to the Secretary of State for External Affairs

EMBASSY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

No. 298

The Ambassador of the United States of America presents his compliments to the Secretary of State for External Affairs and has the honor to refer to the agreement between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of Canada authorizing the United States Government to operate mobile seismic observatories in Canada from July 1, 1965 to June 30, 1968. This agreement was constituted by Note No. 232, May 18, 1965, from the Embassy to the Department of External Affairs; Note No. 72, June 28, 1965, from the Department of External Affairs to the Embassy; and Note No. 287, June 29, l965, from the Embassy to the Department of External Affairs. Under this agreement five portable LRSM stations have been operated at selected locations in Canada since the latter part of 1965 in support of the program of seismic research known as Project VELA UNIFORM.

These field operations have been performed by a private contractor, the Geotech Division of Teledyne, Inc., under the technical direction of the AFTAC/VELA Seismological Center. On several occasions additional mobile seismic stations have been temporarily occupied in Canada to record seismic data of special interest to the VELA UNIFORM program. Typical of these special recording programs was the deployment of 10 portable LRSM seismic stations to record LONG SHOT, a VELA UNIFORM underground nuclear explosion in the Aleutian Islands in October 1965, and operation of a number of seismic recording teams during the cooperative United States-Canada Lake Superior seismic experiment in 1966.

The data obtained from the LRSM seismic stations operated in Canada is utilized in VELA UNIFORM studies related to the detection and identification of underground seismic events. To carry out these studies a statistically meaningful assemblage of seismic events (both natural earthquakes and underground nuclear and chemical explosions) are required for various distance ranges and azimuths from these events. Recording sites in Canada offer recording possibilities at distances and azimuths from the Nevada Test Site and major earthquake zones which contribute in a major way to collection of the seismic data required for research purposes.

Continued operation of LRSM stations in Canada would contribute substantially to meeting the VELA UNIFORM goals. The Government of the United States therefore requests the Government of Canada to agree to extend the agreement referred to in paragraph one of this Note for an additional three year period to begin July 1, 1968, and extend through June 30, 1971. The agreement would continue in accordance with the terms set forth in the notes referred to above, including the agreement that data recorded in Canada under this program would be made available to the Government of Canada if desired, and the results of the research program would be published in unclassified form.

If the foregoing meets with the approval of the Government of Canada, the Ambassador has the further honor to propose that this Note and the reply of the Secretary of State for External Affairs thereto shall constitute an agreement between the two governments, effective on the date of that reply.

J.W.S.

Embassy of the United States of America,

OTTAWA, June 26, 1968

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The Secretary of State for External Affairs to the Ambassador of the United States of America to Canada

DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

No. N-222

The Secretary of State for External Affairs presents his compliments to the Ambassador of the United States of America and has the honour to refer to the Ambassador's Note No. 298 of June 26, 1968 proposing the conclusion of an agreement between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of Canada concerning continued co-operation in seismic observations between the two countries.

The Secretary of State for External Affairs wishes to inform the Ambassador that the proposal of the United States Government, set out in the Ambassador's note, to continue to locate a number of mobile seismic stations in Canada for a period of three years is acceptable to the Government of Canada on the understanding that:

(a) the period covered by this authority will extend from July 1, 1968 to June 30, 1971;

(b) the number and location of mobile observatories, the exchange of scientific data and other details will be agreed upon between the Defence Research Board (DRB) for Canada and the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) for the United States; and

(c) in accordance with the practice followed in the past, equipment imported into Canada for this purpose will be returned to the United States after the research has been completed.

The Secretary of State for External Affairs notes that data recorded in Canada under this agreement will be made available to the appropriate Canadian authorities on request and that the results of the Research Programme will be published in unclassified form.

The Secretary of State for External Affairs concurs in the proposal of the Ambassador of the United States of America that his note and this reply shall constitute an agreement between the two Governments on this subject, effective this date.

M.C.

OTTAWA, June 27, 1968