CHAPTER 1, SECTION 1 A system of advance material estimates made it possible to initiate procurement of selected materials and equipment at an early stage in the Operation. Construction items of common usage were purchased and shipped to Jobsite as stockpile or warehouse stock. This was accomplished before the completion of, and in many cases before the start of, working draw- ings. Quantities were determined on the basis of previous usage of similar construction items. As drawings were released, the material-takeoff and bills of material provided for the al- location of available materials to specific construction. The Estimated Operations Schedule for test facilities was first issued on 14 July 1955. Criteria were not firm at this time but a realistic attempt was made to schedule a date when they would be available and the engineering completed. The schedule for procurement was based on anticipated design, experience and judgement. The construction period was determined on the basis of the estimated productive labor required, along with the dates anticipated for release of drawings and receipt of materials. For the effective follow-up of this schedule, key information concerning status of design, material deliveries, and construction progress was closely watched in order to ascertain which critical items required special handling. To incorporate the latest changes in weap- on design or refinements in instrumentation in- to the test program, changes were made by scientific personnel in the number of events, methods of instrumentation, location of stations, and shot sequence. As a result, firm criteria were not received as early as anticipated. Each addition or change had to be adapted to site planning or other possible conflicting objectives. To cope with changing scientific requirements, the Operations Schedule had to be reviewed periodically and revised so that it reflected the latest information regarding the various as- pects of design, procurement, and construction. Round-table discussions between representatives of the Contractor, AEC, and other agencies in- volved were most beneficial in resolving relevant problems. At a discussion held in Albuquerque indicated that the completion dates requested for several stations could not be met. These completion dates were re-scheduled, and it was later determined that the test programs could be adjusted to accommodate these revised ates. At this period in the Operation the shotisland camps and other temporary base facilities were practically complete, but little construction progress had been made on thescientific structures program and on 15 October only two per cent completion could be reported. However, design drawings had just been previously released for the construction of three small islands on the Dog-Charlie reef, two causeways and an island off Yvonne, and an island causeway off Sally. With the further release of many drawings in November and December 1955, construction activities on scientific test facilities increased rapidly. The situation with respect to the possibility of completing many of the scientific stations, particularly on Yvonne for the first event, be- came extremely critical by November 1955. To evaluate the prospect thoroughly, a conference was held at Eniwetok early in December, dur- ing which the Director, Division of Military Application, AEC; Director, J Division, LASL; Deputy Director, Test Division, AEC; and Manager, Construction Division, H&N, visited all construction sites and re-evaluated procure- ment and construction schedules with the re- sult that it appeared impossible to meet the schedules last established. Although there were incipient shortages in certain labor classifications, the problem of material delivery was paramount and could not be solved underthe hitherto allocated air and surface lift. At this time both the Director, DMA and Director, J Division, stressed the compelling importance of making every practicable effort to meet the required operational readiness dates through the expediting of engineering, procurement, and construction, to the extent of all necessary overtime, premium pay to vendors for faster delivery of fabricated materials and equipment, procurement of materials and equipment on 19 September 1955, the latest revision of this Schedule was reviewed. At that time the on an “off-the-shelf”? basis wherever they could be located, and the airlift of any items capable LASL and DOD programs had been firmed construction schedules. In turn, AEC and CJTF SEVEN would do everything in their power to design for the UCRL program appeared well advanced; however, little of the criteria for the of being airlifted if such was required to meet with the result that this design was only 10% complete. Because of the great number of revisions and additions to design criteria in Sep- The Director, J Division, agreed to delay, revise this schedule accordingly. On 4 Novem- These principles were confirmed and re-empha- the Contractor’s Home Office with the Deputy Director, Test Division, and representatives of the scientific laboratories. This revised schedule the Manager, SFOO. In the subsequent months, airlift tonnage was greatly increased and the tember and October 1955, it was necessary to ber 1955, this latest schedule was reviewed in Page 1-12 obtain extra airlift, and surface lift as required. wherever possible, the station occupancy for set- ting up and checking out the instrumentation. sized in a letter dated 22 December 1955 from frequency of ship sailings was stepped up. Con-