— CAUTION el ae fe Sr Ai , CLAS SECTIO yt = rmatic “This document contains info d State s. fl[ts Unitees tates. f thee Can the Natii onal Delrose ‘ Yoth tents L L. or Us transmission or the diselusure thonzcd poron 3S in any manner to an upan aeswere ona Poy na 1 ed and may resnlt py Sere iiit proh awe. Revereak Laws i Fe teqgi h : s under eppricar penaltic ION RODUCT INT— —— — HISTORIC AL: At the completion of Operation Sandstone the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory established within its organization a permanent division for the testing of atomic weapons. This is known as J-Division. Soon after the establishment of J-Division recommendations were made to the Manager, Santa Fe Operations Office for the AEC to establish somewhat permanent testing and operational facilities at Eniwetok in order to greatly minimize the effort and cost involved in conducting repeated tests of this nature. J- Division also recommended at this time that a civilian engineering-construction firm be utilized for the principal construction program involved in the establishment of the proving ground facilities. Accordingly, a contract was entered into between the AKC and the engin- eering firm of Holmes and Narver, Los Angeles, California to conduct an engineering survey of the requirements for the semi-permanent facilities at Eniwetok. The report of this study, entitled "Report on Reconnaissance, Planning, Utilities and Structures at Proving Grounds, Eniwetok Atoll for Atomic Energy Commission” and submitted 7 January 1949, served as a basis for a comprehensive study and planning program on the part of J-Division. be referred to herein as the "Reconnaissance Report", This Report will From this study the division recommended to the AEC an operational plan with detailed construction requirements which were believed to represent the most satisfactory and economical means for conducting repeated tests at the South Pacific site. It should be pointed out that the subject of a continental site for atomic weapon testing was thoroughly considered at this time and the decision was made by the Commission that no satisfactory site was currently available, el DI MM ACAMA SS 1 Ev