-4- Acting Administrator pro: This option is compatible with the recent ERDA philosophy outlined in the lab and field report which emphasizes the impurtance of regional manazement. Under this concept an authoritative, responsible full t.me offieial would be colocated with our Pacific Support Base which is close to the ocene of many complex Pacific activities. Headquarters direction would be addressed to a single manager who would be responsible for attending to conflicts and ambiguities rather than having them (as now) go unresolved |or having resolution attempted at the field project level]. con: This option would require one additional Federal position at the GS 15 or 16 level. Option B: Determine that it is not in the interest of ERDA‘s programs in the Pacific to assign one Headquarters’ personnel as field cuoordinator and manager of the AES activities. pro; No «ction is required to implement this option. position is required. No Federal con: A continuation of an uncoordinatei program would not gain the maximum efficiency of the funling. Discussion This requested action ia not a recent develovment as the enclosed letter of 2/74 shows there have been three years of staff considerations of these aspects by AES. As the position of Di-ector of MPML is vacant now, end the clean-up activities of DOD are »eing formulated, it is requested that this action be expedited ag soon as possible. In addition, there are some <iministrative advantages of a focused ERDA program in this area as illustrated by two lawsuits. In October, 1975, a law suit was filed on behalf of the people of Bikini in the Federal District Court in Hawait against the Administrator of ERDA and other U.S.A, officials as defendents. It was alleged that the Federal government was responsible for numerous failures and daficiencies in dealing with the people of Bikini. In November, 1976, an attormey for the people of Utirik filed an administrative claim with the Administrator (and also the Secretary of Interior) for $100,000,000, This was allegedly due Co individual and community damages resulting from nuclear atmospheric tests. | OFFICE > SURNAME p> DATE > Form AIC-J18 (Rey. 9-53) AECM 0240 4 . Boteri. t . Ww U. @: GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE! 1974-%24-166 st mete . t , Nt ogtee . . . Poet: gp ery eee, 4 met a. Siw. . _*