135 Planning and Programming Thecritical factor in the selection of D-Day was the time required for mobilization of manpower and material. For a major project, a minimum of 180 days normally is required from the time personnel and supplies are requisitioned until they arrive at the work site. The Logistics and Manpower Working Groups insisted that even with Force Activity Designator (FAD)II, a relatively high military priority, and expedited action at all levels, an absolute minimum of 90 days was required. Evenso, to meet a 1S June 1977 D-Day, the absolute latest date the mobilization effort could begin was I5 March 1977. The first alternative, which required that base camps using tents be erected in 60 days, was clearly impractical for the more permanent type camp being proposed for Lojwa. Thethird alternative was strongly favored by ERDA and Armyplanners. Navy and Air Force planners were prepared to support either the second or third alternative although they, too, preferred the latter. The Manpower and Logistics Working Groupsalso preferred the third alternative, but believed that they could support the secondif certain conditions were met:(I) the project must be designated as FAD II; and (2) mobilization must begin by 15 March 1977. Manpower and material for base camp construction mustbe requisitioned a minimum of 90 days before construction forces were due to arrive on D-Day. Since actual cleanup operations would not begin until after the mobilization phase was completed at D+5 months, manpower and equipment for cleanup could be ordered later; however, the manpower and material required for camp construction would have to be identified and requisitioned as soon as possible. This meant that mobilization could not be delayed until the OPLAN had beenfinalized and approved, but must begin immediately (March) if D-Day were to be 15 June 1977. Based upon these considerations, BG Lacy selected the second alternative and approved starting mobilization on 15 March 1977. The deciding factor in establishing 15 June 1977 as D-Day was general agreement that the momentum established at the conference should be maintained. Other factors were avoidance ofcost escalations and the need to demonstrate to the dri-Enewetak, and to the world, that the United States was aboutto fulfill its promises.328,329 _ To accommodate both the lengthened schedules and the 15 June 1977 DDay, the operations schedule of the CONPLAN (Figure 2-7) had to be revised in the OPLAN. The determining factor in the CONPLANschedule was contaminated soil removal and containment, which was estimated to require approximately 2 years. Since the actual extent of soil contamination, especially subsurface contamination, was unknown, the planners could only make a rough estimate of its magnitude. The OPLAN acknowledged this in several places: