There are a couple memos from the AEC secretary on about 18Dec. noting
the fact that a response to Dr. Harold Brown's letter on the subject of
the atmospheric test series be prepared and that Gen. Betts of DMA will
be preparing a reply.
Here is an interesting message from Reeves to Betts on 1& Necerber which is
,
TL
documented briefly in the NTS planning board notes but a few specifics ought to be
mentioned.
Based en a request from Betts on le December, Reeves makes certain
estimates such as total fiscal year costs for testing of 121 million for FY-62 and
$28,000,000 for FY-63.
The drilling program for the program set out by Betts requires
a 56 hour work week (7.days) on three shifts, with drilling support activities and
construction of surface facilities requiring a 54 hour work week on the average..
Reeves estimates the amount of drilling and the fact that it will require additional
personnel to be hired immediately and sets out various interesting statistics such as
that there are presently about forty rigs on rental at an average rate of about $25
pex hour which is equivalant to $1000 per hour just for the drill rigs and thus, if
work is shut down on the week-ends, which would amount to $48,000 of rental money
wasted each week.
In general, he seems to be arguing against adding a fourth shift
to cut down the pay per man and jutifying the fact that the hours cannot be decreased
at this time in order to meet the planned shot schedules.
As kha for the area of
tunneling, the average work week required to meet the schedules is fifty-four
hours
and even at that additional personnel are needed to be hired immediately,
which among
other problems, will tax the presently overcrowded state of Camp 12.
In the area
of tunneling crews he is arguing for both more people and more facilities.
Around the last week of December, the AEC is making
estimates from their Field
Offices and from their contractors » Such as H
& N for Washington on how much the
expanded overseas: atmospheric program will cost
under various assumption and how the
costs should most appropriately be split between the
DOD and the AEC.