CHAPTER |, SECTION 1 Of the difficulties encountered during the construction build-up, the logistic problem was one of major importance. In order to maintain the anticipated construction schedule, it was necessary to transship all existing equipment and materials from Site How to Johnston Island. Procurement of additional scientific equipment an accelerated pace until the completion of all Scientific Stations on 7 July. It was determined rather late in the planning stages that a 500-kw generator was required to fulfill the island’s power needs. This presented a tremendous problem, in view of the fact that and materials from Honolulu and the mainland generators of this capacity have a long procure- in most instances by MATS and commercial air freight to Honolulu for transshipment to Johnston Island. During the construction period, a total of 35,194 measurement tons (5580 long ville, R. I., for the loan of a 500-kw portable generator. Also, it was found necessary to borrow was also necessary, with shipments being made tons) was received at Johnston Island by surface craft and 2,193,955 pounds by air. The entry of H&N into activities at Johnston Island posed additional problems from a security standpoint. The key factor was that any indication of AEC or JTF-7. interest in, ment lead-time. To overcome this obstacle negotiations were concluded with the Navy at Davis- from the Navy at Pearl Harbor seven pieces of heavy equipment valued at about $200,000. As a result of these arrangements with the Navy, critical items were obtained without disturbing the logistic program at Eniwetok and Bikini Atolls. No costs were incurred other than transportation and rehabilitation upon the return of the equipment. or occupancy of, Johnston Island in relation to testing operations was initially classified as Secret. This made it extremely difficult to re- WEATHER AND RAD-SAFETY STATIONS. would arrive at Johnston Island on an uncleared basis and, in addition, any indication of Johns- Scientific Users keep constantly aware of the cruit personnel, as the bulk of new employees ton Island as the destination of materials procured for the test program would have compromised classified information. The problem was resolved through conferences with the ALO Clas- sification Division and Test Division officials which resulted in an early declassification of information pertaining to intended testing acti- vities at Johnston Island. Based upon this de- classification decision, permission was obtained from the CJTF-7, through the ALO Test Division Security Officer, to use employees on an uncleared or ‘‘GSR” basis indefinitely. This factor also eliminated the security problem in A successful test series requires that the changing weather and radiological conditions; therefore, it was considered essential to establish new, and rehabilitate existing, Weather and Rad- safety Stations at various atolls forming a ring around the EPG. These atolls presented a diversity of climates, topography, marine andaircraft landing conditions, and ownership. Although it was the responsibility of the military services to operate these stations, H&N was contractually obligated to survey the sites and construct the necessary support structures. Construction efforts with respect to the off-atoll weather and rad-safety sites are covered in Chapter II, Sec- connection with the procurement and shipping of materials. Wherever possible, cleared employ- tion 4, Expendable Construction. In many instances, it was necessary to accomplish this assignment under adverse conditions seldom en- able portion of the personnel requirements were filled with new hires from Honolulu, on a “GSR” Assistant Director, Test Division, AEC, ALOO, that JTF-7 was planning to use the following ees were transferred from Eniwetok and Bikini Atolls to Johnston Island; however, a considerbasis. HEN established a TG’7.5 Pass and Badge Office at Johnston Island to handle the control and issuance of security badges, and security requirements were handled in much the same manner as they were at Eniwetok and Bikini Atolls. A 60-hour extended work week was necessitated during the construction phase to maintain an. accelerated construction schedule. Scien- tific Station construction began on 2 May, and by 9 May the lower section of the service tower for Station J-6001 was set on its auxiliary pad and tower erection was in progress. On the same date the inside wall forms were set for Station J-6002, and half of the re-inforcing steel bar was in place. All major Scientific Stations were under construction by 1 June, and work continued at countered in a normal construction project. Early in 1957 H&N was notified by the sites for weather and rad-safety purposes during Operation HARDTACK: WEATHER Tarawa Kusaie Kapingamarangi Nauru Rongerik Utinik RADSAFETY Wotho Ujelang Rongelap U.S. WEATHER BUREAU Truk Ponape An interesting aspect of this program was the land lease terms that were entered into be- tween a negoviating team, composed of representatives of the AEC, the Trust Territories, and H&N, and the owners of the various atolls. In most of the atolls these arrangements were concluded with the native chiefs; however, in several instances the negotiating team dealt with Cau- Page 29