AL CHEE by | United States Departmeni -.“the Interior . OFFICE OF TERRITORIES WASHINGTON, D.C, 20240 : Hon. Lloyd Meeds House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 20515 %\ ‘ \ \ oS ry,4 | v) 4 | = v* . JUL 22 Bee Dear “r. Meeds: Secretary Wickel has asked m2 to acknowledge and respond to your letter of July 10, 1969, enclosing 4 copy of a letter which you recetvad from Mr. Bill Williams, Science Tditor of the Seattle Times. Mr. Williams reperted some coneerns of Dr. Edward E, Held. about the cleanup of Bikini ctoll now being conducted by the Defense Atomic Support Agency. and we are, therafore, in no position efther to confirm or to refute his comments with resnect to the operation now underway. DASA is the agency of the United States Government which is charged with the cleanup responsibility. As far as we are aware, no major break-down or delay has occurred and the cleanup process ia poing according to schedule. We had originally estimated thet six months would be reauired for the cleanup, but, with the fiscal year funding problem that developed, it was decided several months ago that a slight stretch-out is required. We | currently expect the cleanup to be completed in late September or early ' October, Ot never any intent to support the DASA project from Kwajalein although the resources of Kwajalein could be sought in the event of emergencies, High Commissioner Johnston is planning to visit Bikini in mid-August and I am taking the liberty of sending him a copy of your letter and that of Mr. Williams. I believe ha should be aware of the comments made by Dr, Held and Mr. Williams in order that he might personally look into the situation, The Bigh Commissioner has had arepresentative on the atoll during the cleanup phase and he will probably also wish to have a report from him before he visits Bikint, Dr. Held also expressed some concern with respect to the support which the Trust Territory might expect from Kwajalein during the resettlement phase of the Bikini project. We had, in fact, not planned on any sub- stantial support from Kwajalein other than the essentially emergency support which that activity normally provides ue. aircraft assistance, A possible exception might be en Fy REPOSITORY pot/Pase COLLECTION Dot ee; a BOX No. OE FOLDER Te | | | ‘ eestgty talon ve ne camette Bd Tana De. Held also stated that the operation ia being eupported from Nickam | Field, rather than Kwajalein. It is my understanding that there waa . . wort om pe eee ee a ete ny tsey 77 gigs cing oh Semen ete we TA Peete ore Eee ‘ ! s renee FEM a ee pe aided 3 BeLeobs.» op Fee Fe iera tey oF aienipeteanttelbarged :° Bee BESTCOPY AVAILABLE . ~ a" % _ Dr. Held, of course, has been on Bikini nore recently than any of us