CHAPTER 5.6 LIAISON TO OBTAIN DESIGN CRITERTA The need for close liaison between the scientific and operational groups whose requirements would determine the Proving Ground facilities which the A-E-C-M Contract was to design, construct, and operate was recognized as essential to the long-range planning and development of Operation Greenhouse. The procedures established to maintain this liaison between J-Di- vision and the H & N Engineering Division are discussed in Chapter 5.3 of this report. More than thirty trips were made by the Chief Engineer or members of his staff to Los Alamos, Chicago, Washington, D. C., and the Jobsite for this purpose. These trips, as well as the many by personmel of J-Division, were supplemented by frequent telephone calls, dispatches, and letters. The details of the development of master planning, site planning, and many other engineering features are given in subsequent portions of this volume. Because of the fact that the success or failure of the facilities provided at the Proving Ground to serve the needs of the Users hinged upon the success or failure of getting these requirements from the minds of scientists to the drafting boards of engineers, it is felt that a orief resume of the salient points of this liaison might be Valuable at this point. The liaison to obtain design criteria might be said to have started with a series of meetings at the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory on November 15 to 19, 1948. This was attended by a large group from J-Division, the principals of Holmes & Narver, and the reconnaissance team. Shortly after this meeting, the direction and liaison of ail technical and operational matters was delegated to J-Division. Following the November meeting, at which some basic criteria were established, the Engineering Division started the preparation of master site plans and began a detailed study of types of building con- struction, The latter resulted in the selection of the 24-foot wide aluminum building that could be used in any length in multiples of four feet. It was not until December 13, 1949, that the development of scien- tific test structures could be started, and thus initial design work was concentrated on the development of Enivwetok and Parry Islands ard the living camps for the experiment islands: Engebi, Rojoa, and Runit. The Chief Engineer made a trip to the Laboratory at Los Alamos, submitted site plans, and thoroughly discussed them with representatives of J-Division. Changes were suggested and notations made which vere later incorporated in the site plans. 5-41