A
General Starbird said the Department of the Interior had not indicated
that they would provide any funds for the project.
Libbey suggested
that consideration be given to expanding the project and inviting
cooperation from private industry and universities onan unclassified
basis.
In view of the possible civilian uses which could be developed,
he said this was an important project which could be developed ona
cooperative basis.''
"Mr.
In remarking on the weapons testing budget,
Fields remarked that the 45 million dollars in the base budget
for weapons tests might not be sufficient and General Starbird pointed
out that underground tests require more funds than the surface tests
at the NTS."
Meeting #1371, 9 May 1958:
Lengthy budget discussions for the upcoming fiscal years included
Libbey's remarks that in connection with test funding in the Pacific,
"Consideration should be given to the possibility that by 1960 all testing
would be underground at NTS.
The Commissioners briefly discussed
with the General Manager and Mr.
Burrows the question of whether
underground shots would be more expensive than testing at Enewetok,
and Mr.
Burrows
said he believed underground testing would be less
expensive than testing at Enewetok.
Mr.
Libbey suggested that it might
be desir..ble to footnote the cost estimates for testing, indicating that
if all testing is carried on underground, additional funds might be
required.''
Note that Starbird was not at this meeting.
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