The site was selected because its earthquake activity afforded a basis for seismic signal comparisons.

[2] Project Shoal was part of the Vela Uniform program sponsored jointly by the U.S Department of Defense and the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission.

Vela Uniform was directed toward locating, detecting, and identifying underground detonations.

It involved detonating a 12-kiloton nuclear device in granitic rock at a depth of approximately 1,211 feet (369 m) below ground surface.

This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Department of Energy.