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Planning and Programming
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ona 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% 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 obviousthat the goal could not be
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achieved without considerable assistance from the Military Services. A
February 1976 CONPLANwasdeveloped, which resulted in a total cost of
$26.016 million, with two cost-reduction alternatives: (1) assigning
personnel on a PCS versus TDY basis, and (2) using cut-and-cover
trenches versus crater containment of contaminated material. These
alternatives lowered thecostto $19.361 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 $14.469 million to $24.331 million, depending on the option
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selected. The cut-and-cover alternative was rejected, as it would require
lengthyefforts to revise the E1S.208
A 2 July 1976 CONPLANwas preparedto include crater containment
and provide other cost-reduction options. It had a total cost of $24.331
million, which could be reduced by $3.1l1 million if personnel were PCS
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instead of TDY, and by $1.156 million if the Services provided spare parts
for their equipmenton a nonreimbursablebasis, leaving a reduced cost of
$20.064 million. This edition of the CONPLANwassentfor review to the
JCS whoin turn sentit to the Services and Commander in Chief, Pacific
Command (CINCPAC)for comment.299 This 2 July 1976 version of the
CONPLAN (whose genesis can be traced back to the original April 1975
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‘blue’? CONPLAN), became—after one more major revision—the
‘““CONPLANI-76’’ upon which the cleanup was based.
THE LANDMARK HEARING: MARCH 1976
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By the spring of 1976, three of the four cognizant Congressional
committees had approved the Enewetak Atoll Cleanup Project. Only the
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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
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