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Conference, I was asked if I felt that the ship was adequate for future medical
surveys and I indicated that, based on past experiences and performance, I did

not feel that it would be suitable.” The Users Conference was therefore adjourned
and Mr. Ray, Mr. Stanley, Mr. Brown, and I had lunch together.

During this

period of time, it was apparent that there was a strong desire by the DOE group
to renew the U.S. Oceanography contract.

I understand their problem from a

procurement and fiscal standpoint, but the problems that developed involved
both significant material changes aboard the ship and some obvious behavioral
changes by the personnel of U.S. Oceanography.

I doubt very seriously if this

can be accomplished under the present administrative organization.
a copy of the contract before we left Kwajalein.

I requested

I finally was allowed to make

a copy in Honolulu on the way back from the survey.

A careful review of the

contract reveals that the anniversary date is September 16, 1979, and it
specifically stipulates that notification of termination of the contract must
be given 90 days prior to that date.

This would mean that the Department of

Energy would need to give written notification on or before June 16th,

1979.

The co-users of the ship pointed out to me the obvious problems that this
termination would pose for their programs.»1 understand the funding for this
charter has come primarily from the Medical Division of DOE and it is my fixm

opinion that this ship will be unsuitable for any extended use by the medical
program. I have agreed to an interim schedule for the medical survey scheduled
for May 26 - June 13th.

This survey will be entirely different than the

January-February Survey in that almost the entire program will be shore based,
rather than ship based, and will be devoted primarily to pediatric consultation
and sick call.

In addition, the medical party will be considerably smaller

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than the previous survey.

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