OFFICIAL USE ONLY
phe )
411486
January 22, 1969
Distribution:
NEES Subject
’ NEES Reading
OS Reading
OS Reading
Martin B. Biles, Director, OS
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THRU: R. D. Maxwell, Chief, NEES, 0S
REQUEST FOR COMMENTS FROM LT. COL. ANTHONY A. GOMES
The attached memo, George R. Milner, Asst. Dir., Pacific Div. to
Lt Col. A. A. Gomes, was sent to us by Lt. Col. Gomes along with
@ request for comments on this and on the Department of Interior
plan for resettlement of Bikini.
Because of a pressure of time
we responded just with comments on the latter which has since
been finalized and I understand released. The Milner memo raises
two questions, one new and one old.
The first, namely consideration of the possibility of a small
nuclear power plant for Bikini, at first sounds ludicrous, but
it does have a certain emotional appeal. Namely, the atomhas
made significant changes in the Bikini environment and its
potential for destruction is nowhere better displayed, yet its
peaceful application contributes to rebuilding and restoring
the atoll. Considering that this question is outside NEES Branch
responsibilities it ia suggested, with your concurrence, that other
interested divisions be contaeted who could explore the question
of feasibility, cost, logistics, benefits, liabilities, etc.
Further, with your concurrence, we would propose to reply to
Lt. Col. Games request for comments on the ship salvage question
right away using the position previously taken that more information
than is Known to exist must be obtained on the radiation status of
the vessels on the bottom of Bikini Lagoon before a judgement can
be made on salvage and use of these materials. An interim reply
would be given that AEC staff have been asked to consider the
‘question of a nuclear power plant for Bikini and an answer will
be givenTater.
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Tomy F. McCraw
Nuclear Explosives Environmental
OFFICIAL USE ONLY
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