cole ; ” - . . ic f ; . 1 / rea 2 areas. tt Beer?adiMme IANA ISLANDS 95900 ——"HICROHESIAN HELIS SERVICE/SAIPAN, MAR News Story January 22, 1969 BININI CLEAN-UP TO START SOON Saipan (MNS)--U.S. Atomic Energy Commission and Department nto action to get the Bikini renabdilitation Hs of Defense have jumped moving as quickly as possible. Col. Jonn Schott of the AEC _ visited Saipan Tuesdzy, January 21, to arrange transportation for @n cisnat-man survey team to begin clearing the Eneu Island ai stris on Bikini Atoll. Unfortunately, the Trust Territory ships in the Marshalls are now tied up with typhoon relief efforts. Other possible means of transportation are being explored. According to Daputy High Commissioner Martin FeP. Mangan Mangan, the — ' Atomic Energy Commissioner has several hundred thousand dollars which must be spent before the end of fiscal year 1969 or before July 1, 1969, The total of AEC and Defense Department funds available at this time is understood to be in the vicinity of $600,CCO, The cost of cleaning out the dangerous structures, debris and radioactive iron is estimated by the AEC's contractor, Homes and Narver, to be $1,200,000. will cost about $3,200,000. | . The entire return to Bikini Former President Johnson requested $1.7 million in his budeet message last week, but the fact that. other money is now available will mean Bikini rehabilitation can start at least six months earlier than previously planned. p One of the first jobs to be done on Bikini is to cleer 400 feet of the Eneu airstrip so that short-takeoff-and-landing . -more- _