Fran ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE WASHINGTON, D.C. 20301 Aig”2h"" _> jdoeono INSTALLATIONS AND LOGISTICS TH Eee yy? TS. COMSSIFICATION CANCELLED 6. CLASSIFIED INFO BRACKETED 7. OTHER (SPECIFY): KIEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE| sok wheroh SUBJECT: Support for Department of the Interior Radiological Survey of Bikini Atoll; DoD Funding Requested (U) - ACTION . MEMORANDUM Vy ((U) The Secretary of the Interior letter (TAB A) requests DoD provide a base support ship, two helicopters and airlift in support of a radio- } logical survey of Bikini Atoll and other islands. The Bikini survey is required to enable Interior to avoid disruption of the Bikini resettlement plan, and the potentially serious implications attendant to such disrupThe additional survey of other islands is a longer-range matter. sition. WN nina oat on amps weneere : : > With respect to the Bikini support alone, the cost to Interior on a re:m- } bursable basis would be $609,000. ¥ S| ods i} Le ‘. BN os yoy Bothagencies hold to the position that neither has any funds to payfor theDoD supporttand that, absent DoD support, no survey can be conducted atthis time. e.The Secretary ofthe Interior has indicated that failure toconductthe survey could have serious political implications for the United States Government and the Administration, ot _. wif Oo ait La sii Coes | “ ee * Cy! WES. Of 7 muses Ou hy SS Se SL a Te yi 4 (C) This brings us to a situation very similar to that encountered in te ? Bikini cleanup. The Office of the General Counsel then determined that a: ¢ yo | DoD had no existing obligation thit would allow use of regularly eppropri- Ge Bie Wot This aspect has been discussed with Interior and Energy Research and Development Administration (ERDA). ony a. ated funds. It was then decided to use the Contingencies, Defense appropriation, on the basis of the eee defense interests in Micronesia. 3 achUneoe a poe ry ; ne “iN N{(U) The enclosed response to Interior presents a workable proposal for the Bikini survey support, It does not include the larger oroject for the other islands, since the ship is not available for the longer time period. CoOuTR Ho e X= 7309 | J og, 43