gvat the National Archives
Reproduced ERIE

(SS8TR IED PERY,ooLS,

TOD

CATED

JUL

Pacific Southwest Region

1994

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PROS? ALTON SINISGALLE TC

DIANE S. NIXON
many reck pinnacles which would have te be removed by blasting and by
bulldeser. The fresh water supply alse presenta a problem in that itwould
be necessary to install a beester pwap near the shore to provide sufficient
pressure to raise water from sea level to the. weather station site, a

vertieal distance of appreximately 150 feet. -This would invelve alse a.

-

pipeline approximately one-half mile in length. Re-supply of. the weatiiér.

station at Site No. 1 would alse involve a trenspertatien problea, both for
personnel, ‘material and equipment due to the distance from the site te the
retrip.

Site. No. 2 as previously selected presents essentially the same problems from
a construction standpoint as Site No. 1, with the exception that this site is

approximately one-quarter mil farther by road from the airstrip than is Site

Mo. 1 and ie slightly farther from the ecean. This site is, however, slightly
sarger inares and dees net have the reck pinnacles which are present at
te

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2

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Site Ne. 3 as previously selected ie unacceptable, principally froh an air

navigation and air safety standpoint, in that this site is approximately one-

quarter mile from, and directly in line with, the existing airstrip.

Is.Cel.

Cex stated that this site would be extremely hasardeus from the standpoint of

air safety and that this site would undoubtedly be strongly eppesed by the
Australien aviation authorities. The Secretary also mentiened that plans
were being made to lengthen this rumray and that the lengthened strip would
aleo interfere with the siting ef a weather statien in this lecatien. An
attempt is also being made to license this field for larger aircraft, and the
siting ef this weather statien in line with this airstrip would seriously hamper
these efferts.

Although it was not the intention of the members of this party te make an

evaluation, frem a weather eperation standpoint, of the sites as selected by

the survey team of 23 July 1956, it is felt that the abeve comments are extremely
pertinent in the interest of air safety and econeny of censtruction. For these
reasons it was felt that alternate sites should be selected prior to the
departure ef the menbere of this party from Nauru Island.

Drawing FS-6161, Revision Ne. 2, titled "Nauru Island", February 1957 survey,
reflects a recommended site and two alternate sites for a weather station at

Nauru, and the lecation and suitability of these sites is concurred in by

Mr. Butte, Mr. Dunlap, Lt. Col. Cex and the Secretary, Mr. Hutchnance. These
sites were alse discussed with the adainistratien surveyer and have his:
concurrence regarding the suitability ef these sites and the possibility of
their being made available without excessive delay.
Site No. 1, which is the recemmended site, 1s south of and in the approximate
center of the airfield and. is lecated 300 feet west of the existing Administration
Building and approximately 40 feet east of the existing school. The site is

175 feet wide by 330 feet long and with the southern edge et the top of bankline
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