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THE SECRETARYGTOF
ON DEFENSE
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way 1 6 1960
ADE 7 1
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Dear Mr. Chairman:
R
I refer to your letter of April 22, 1960”which requested
that you be informed by May 15 of the Department of Defense
interest in acquiring the Eniwetok Proving Ground and, if the
Department has no requirement for the Proving Ground, concurrence in placing it in a caretaker status.
DECLASSIFIED ON:
DECLASSIFIED BY:
DEPEXECSEC
6 DEC 1995
I agree that the Eniwetok Proving Ground should not be
retainedanuclear test facility.
The Department of Defense has
a requirement for the area as an additionto the Pacitic Missile
andappreciate your offer to arrange for transfer of the
facility and equipment to the Department of Defense on a non-reimbursable basis.
The Pacific Missile Range will be directed to contact your
Albuquerque Operations Office in the nea1r future to make arrangements for the transfer which we hope can be effective on 1 July
1960.
Subject to your concurrence, we will expect the Pacific
Missile Range to negotiate with Holmes and Narver for operation
of the facility. In order to meet Department of Defense needs for
the Eniwetok Lagoon as an impact area for missiles, and to stay
within funds which can be made available to support the facility,
it is most desirable that personnel at Eniwetok Proving Ground
be reduced by 1 July to approximately 145 employees involved in
operating the facility for the Department of Defense, You may
expect this to be a matter to be negotiated by the Pacific Missile
Range.
Sincerely yours,
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Honorable John A, McCone .
Chairman
U. S. Atomic Energy Commission
Emad a7) SEE DEPvest SC