107 Planning and Programming V 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 . 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 vu 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 ' L 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 r ‘blue’? CONPLAN), became—after one more major revision—the ‘““CONPLANI-76’’ upon which the cleanup was based. THE LANDMARK HEARING: MARCH 1976 i ’ By the spring of 1976, three of the four cognizant Congressional committees had approved the Enewetak Atoll Cleanup Project. Only the t | 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 fies A