WH. S- > DOBARCHIVES} +) one . . i4 f 2 ~ 70 , 408340 Se ie SY oye A , pes KR . f i ome : an RO . PAs Soa Rachaoa| ; i Honorable Walter J. Hickel Secretary of the Interior Dear Mr. Hickel: This is in response to former Secretary Udali’s letter of January 17, 1969, on the Bikinf resettlement program. I am pleased to say that the Atomic Energy Comission (AEC) will cooperate with the Departments of the Interior and Defense in the cleanup of the Bikini Atoll. The Commission will provide $300,000 in fiscal year 1969 for this purpose. The AEC will be responsible for the radiological health and safety aspects of the program. It is my understanding that the Department of Defense would Like to manage the cleanup efforts in coordination with the AEC, The AEC has no objections to this arrangement providing the total AEC cost does not exceed $300,000. Cordially, - BEST COPYAVAILABLE (Sipood] Glenn T. Seaborg Chairman ce: pee NBR, Honorable Melvin Rk. Laird Secretary of Defense so&cc: cc: 2cc:: 2cce: ‘ Addressee Hon. M. R. Laird, Sec. of Defense OCR Chairman eg 5cc: Std DMA ec: Comm Tape cc: Comm Johnson Form AEC-318 (Rev. 9-53) AECM 0240 9-0443 fm Udall MA: Admn BM Os 2cc: Gen Mgr cc: EAGM co: DGM ‘pare |_-.1/27/69 Ref: MA: PA&B cc: Comm Costagliola surname p |.AAGomes/jwe , i cc: EM cc: Comm Ramey OFFICE p |______MA:Tests... 2cc: Secretariat cc: Dir Ref cc: OS AGMMA EBGiller 1/ /69 EAGM W /69 DGM |MW /69 + U.S. GOVERN MERT PRINTING OFFICE - 1966 O—296-617 GM if /69 OcR LOAGTT . . 1/ /69