. . i a a ”~ 4 ' . : ae ‘ ‘ : - ate ; eo, . 4 Oe nr cae UNITED STATES , 4 Be 411487 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR a OFFICE OF TERR. TONE: WASIINGTON, O.C, , 20240 Li.tol. Anthony A. Gomes, USAF Otfice of Assistant Director See Ota eek OT, lor Tests Division of Military Application Atomic Liergy Commission Washington, D.C. 20545 Leer Colonel Cones: Copfirivin,, our comversation of the othe: dav. we shoulda sreetly avpreciate your Leoniog inte the scesihilicy of obtatiin;, a wave] cuclear vower phone witel: ceuld provide power for the Bikini community. Tic vurimary uscs would oc powcr fer a radio transmitter, schecl, dispessary, church and o com- munity buildiw,. We ure anticipating an ultimate populatica of 306 io 4606 Bcrsons on Bikini. Probably most cf the individual lowes would not be served with electrical pewer. Over the iong haul, we viould look toward power acmands from a suall guest-house type tacility and, possibly, o science ceutler. coset “ As a related matter, the high Commissioner would like Co velersine Lhe positicn cf the ate and the Defense Departrcnt with resvect cto the test ships that were sunk in the Bikini lasoan as a resuleé of tests there. Over the years we hove bec propesals from peophe sechise, to salwaye ive Veosels ang, prebobay mew that the atell Glerecane. is te be resettled, such The basie gnestion i.., Fo shoale venpedo ure tuews orf believed to be "hot" to an cphtent sulvapye. santnge esas Perhoeps, inquiries wiil Chink, whletlecr thet the AKC has sone informuricn on this or, the woud pree tine perhops, tabs ig informeticon thal woula have te be acvelouca., Mr. Norwoou is uneer Lhe “upression thet ir. McCraw was of the cpinion that the ships are possibly still dancerocus and that a salvage attempt should be preceeded by «% reasscss- ment of ihe hazard. a Tf the ships sre "salvabie," L supmose tic next step would be io delormine “title or ownership. Some were former Lnited States vessels ana ethers were formey enemy vessels. In the circunstances, Defense micht impose seorc clain or restrictions on them. In any event, I woule appreciate yeur hoving I'm sendin the appropriate people in AEC look inte this question as well. Commander Kuhn a copy of this lIctter and asking him to look into the questicn, tee. TL the ulitpso proved to be of seme salvage valuc, we would consider eeveting the royalties or proceeds from the salvage to the use of the Bikini people, either directly or by way of their trust turd. fos \Sincerely yours [ie “ m™ aan _— \. . 1 \ l Georye RE Milaer BEST COPY AVAILABLE Asuiis tant Direetor Pacific Division , oy ' [. / | }