110
RADIOLOGICAL CLEANUP OF ENEWETAK ATOLL
and the use of troop labor. DNA furnished detailed supporting data
their planned costs and savings.222 The committee considered obtaining 4
waiver of further claims by the dri-Enewetak to hold project costs down
LTG Johnson expressed his belief that it would be extremely difficult tg
complete the project for the $20 million.223
The committee subsequently approved only $15 million of the $29
million requested by DNA and required DOD and DOI to develop
additional plans to reduce project costs, including a maximum amount of
effort by the dri-Enewetak in the nonradiological cleanup ang
rehabilitation efforts. The committee also added an amendmentto the
appropriations bill which prohibited spending anyof the $15 million being
appropriated until TTPI certified to DOD that the dri-Enewetak agreeg
that the $15 million constituted the total commitment ofthe United States
Government for the cleanup of the atoll. This was to assure that the
project did not become‘‘. . .an endless drain. . .’’ on the United States,224
MILITARY CONSTRUCTION APPROPRIATION ACT OF FY 1977;
JULY 1976
On 22 June 1976, The Senate Committee on Appropriations
recommendedapprovalof the full $20 million appropriation. Based onthe
exhaustive studies and documentation submitted by DNA, the
Committee was convinced costs would be minimized through use of DOD
resources already funded in other programs. Other considerations for
accomplishing the project without delay were potential loss of goodwill and
the long-term costs of maintaining the quarantine on Runit until it could
be cleaned ofradiological contamination.225
In the conference to resolve Senate and House differences on the
MILCON appropriation bill, the conferees approved the $20 million
requested with two provisions: (1) that the dri-Enewetak agree that this
amount was the extent of the Government’s obligation for cleanup; and
(2) that maximum use be made of the Military Services resources to
accomplish the cleanup.226 Thebill passed the House on ! July 1976, the
Senate on 2 July 1976, and, upon signature by the President on 16 July
1976, became Public Law 94-367. The law included the following key
provisions:
‘‘Noneof the funds appropriated for the cleanup may be expendedfor
the Cleanup of Enewetak Atoll until such time as the Secretary of Defense
receives certification from appropriate administering authorities of the
Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands that an agreement has been reached
with the owners of the land of Enewetak Atoll or their duly constituted
representatives that this appropriation shall constitute the total
commitment of the Governmentof the United States for the cleanup of
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