106
WETAK ATOLL
RADIOLOGICAL CLEANUP OF ENE
h
ouse authorization conference whic
line with the thinking of the Senate-H
‘mit
200
ane
1
target rather than a hm
had authorized $20 million as a
to resolve ne ommtt €
conference
Senate-House appropriations
after lene ssi eos
differences on funding, the Senate conferees,
an
.
tly agreed to defer funding. .
be rool belore
mou
atoll
the
of
restoration
‘ltornatives for
7
progra ,
clive
1
5 were spent on what could be an inetie
mand
aT
ey
project
cleanup
the
chances for funding and beginning
comma
av
in
changes
many
of
That autumn also saw the first
Cleanup Proiect RA y Patio
management ofthe Enewetak Atoll
Bri
and was replace d by his deputy,
i
nder, retired
ane
Logistics
of
COL Esser, the Director
Oe alThomas E. Lacy, USAF;
by
replaced
Group, retired and was
Chairman of the Enewetak Planning
nad
ae
Scn
Since BG Lacy and COL
Colonel J. R. Schaefer, USA.
.
+9
co
ning the project,
involved for more than a year in plan
t
the manage ment continuity.
id not have major impact on
er did
geoverd
chanaav
re
FY 1977 MILITARY CONSTRUCTION
PROGRAM:1976
funding for the project in FYWie
After Congress d eclined to provide
ce with ASD{ISA} to reviey ane
LTG Johnson requested a conferen
o
future atoad me confers re
program and determine a oe for
i ae 08ey fon
place on 5 December 1975. Participa
an
eputy of ASD(ISA), LTG Johnson,
inci
l FE. Shedd, IE,
evi
ral
Gene
r
Majo
ion,
POons and "administrat
If was agreed t 0 ition for the
USA. After a review of the situation,
mit
the amount of
© DOD would seek FY 1977 funds in
project.
_—
fy on
for other agencies to testi
e ASD(UISA) would assist in a rranging
behalf of the project.
tary
f DOD’s intention to use TDY mili
® DNA would advise the JCS o
nnel for the project.
ootion
cing MILCON costs OY aT
e DNA would look into redu
<
,“"~
debris
noncontaminated scrap and
buyer remove the
and.204
suggested by Field Comm
In January 1779, te
iona
staff began work with Congress
Planning and Programming
107
on a tour of Enewetak, 8-13 February 1976. The better part of 2 days were
spent inspecting the islands, including Enewetak, Medren, Japtan, and
Runit.2°6 The Congressional staff visit proved valuable in obtaining funds
for the project. In addition, Mr. Rexroad was instrumental in developing
the concept of augmenting MILCON funds with available worldwide
Military Service assets on a nonreimbursable basis. During this same
period, the Field Command Enewetak Planning Group began developing
and pricing optional concepts to conform to the Congressional
authorization of $20 million, It became obvious that the goal could not be
achieved without considerable assistance from the Military Services. A
February 1976 CONPLAN was developed, which resulted in a total cost of
$26.016 million, with two cost-reduction alternatives: (I) assigning
personnel on a PCS versus TDY basis, and (2) using cut-and-cover
trenches versus crater containment of contaminated material. These
alternatives lowered the cost to $19.36] million.207
An April 1976 CONPLAN modified the February 1976 version to
provide an even greater variety of cost reduction possibilities, including
PCS versus TDY personnel, cut-and-cover containment of contaminated
material, and having the Services provide their own spare parts. Total cost
ranged from 314.469 million to $24.331 million, depending on the option
selected. The cut-and-cover alternative was rejected, as it would require
lengthy efforts to revise the EIS. 298
A 2 July 1976 CONPLAN was prepared to include crater containment
and provide other cost-reduction options. It had a total cost of $24.33]
million, which could be reduced by $3.1! million if personnel were PCS
instead of TDY, and by $1.156 million if the Services provided spare parts
for their equipment on a nonreimbursable basis, leaving a reduced cost of
$20.064 million. This edition of the CONPLAN wassent for review to the
JCS who in turn sent it to the Services and Commander in Chief, Pacific
Command (CINCPAC) for comment.209 This 2 July 1976 version of the
CONPLAN (whose genesis can be traced back to the original April 1975
“blue’” CONPLAN), became—after one more major revision—the
““CONPLAN I-76” upon which the cleanup was based.
THE LANDMARK HEARING: MARCH 1976
aod his
l staff members to promote
illi on MILCON fund reques t for
$20 milli
understanding and approval of the
rt C. Nicholas, If, Staff Assistant to
FY 1977.295 He arranged for Mr. Robe
and
,
ommittee on Military Construction
the House Appropriations Subc
tary
Mili
te
Sena
the
to
t
Staf Assistan
Mr. Vorley M. Rexroad,
Johnson
LTG
any
accomp
to
Construction Appropriations Subcommittee,
By the spring of 1976, three of the four cognizant Congressional
committees had approved the Enewetak Atoll Cleanup Project. Only the
House Committee on Appropriations, chaired by Representative Robert
L. F. Sikes, remained to be convinced. The crucial hearing took place on
29 March 1976. The testimony presented by LTG Johnson andothers was
the most definitive and thorough explanation and justification of the