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ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE _
* WASHINGTON,D.C. 20301 —
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pHTVa RATIONAL SAC WOITT APPAIES
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In reply refer to:
1810/69
> 8 Jan: 1969
MEMORANDUM FOR THE CHAIRMAN, JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF
SUBJECT:
Bikini Atoll, DOD Support for Clearing Operation
Lhe President, on 12 August 1968, requested both the Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission, and the Secretary of Defense to work withthe
‘Secretary of the Interior and the High Commissioner of the Trust Territory in planning a comprehensive resettlement program for Bikini Atoll
and to assist them in carrying it out,
Subsequently, the Department of the Interiior requested the Atomic
Energy Commission (AEC) and the Department of Defense (DOD) to
jointly undertake the task, commencing in FY 1969, of removing vegeta{ive overgrowth, debris, and structures or‘'materials residual from
the use of the Atoll for atomic testing which could pose radiation or
accident hazards to the population or interfere with their reasonable
use of the land.
The Department of the Interior has agreed to the above
delineation of the task; however, certain decisions as to the removalof
noncontaminated structures and foliage remain unresolved at this time,.
Interior also requested the AEC and DOD to fund the cleanup costs that
: would be incurred in FY 1969, assuming commencement of work in the
current fiscal year, Interior advised that it had requested an appropriation by Congress for the balance of funds needed to complete the cleanup
task in FY 1970 and to pay for airlift; upon receipt, these funds will be
made available to AEC/DOD or their designated agent for this project.
Neither DOD nor AEC have budgeted any funds for this purpose in
FY 1970, The Atoll, under DOD jurisdiction in accordance with an >
existing Use and Occupancy Agreement with the High Commissioner of
the Trust Territory, has not yet been formally released to the Trust
Territory Governnient,
The Secretary of Defense has authorized the obligation of riot in excess
of $300 thousand from the FY 1969 DOD Contingency Fund to cover the
CONFIRMED TO BE UNCLASSIFIED
urine
AUTHORITY: DOE/SA-20_. SET
BY ALR. SCHMIDT, DATES
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DOWNGRADED AT."3 YEAR INTERVALS 4
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DECLASSIPISD AFTER 12 YEARS.
DOD DIR 5200.10
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