wortoe B4y FRAP OT Ane 1S panaee OEmkPeeee EE bs BEDE ley . ide , bazar gen “7 ao Tire . z =: Che Seattle Cimes BRATTLE WASHINGTON 88111 Cgc eeTES, aoc eae TASIVIEW AVENUE NORTH AMD JOHN STREET July TELEPHONE MAIN 2- 0300 -Lieyd Needs, M.C. House Office Building Washington, D.C. 7’ 1989 408387 | . BEST COPY AVAILABLE Dear Lileyd: Dr. Edward HE. Held of ths University of Washingten has returned from his latost surveytrip to Bikini with somes infermation that, if confirmed, could slew dora tho program to return the people to that atoll. Dr. Held was unable to check the facts and neither have I. he said hoe heard th3 sams story both on Bikini and in Honolulu. Eriefly, these aro his points, But 1. Inferior oquipnsnt is being usea in the atoll cleanup boing ccordinated by tho Dofense Atemiec Supply Agency (DASA). Landing craft being used for acroon-the-logoon transportation aro in cuch tad condition that the Navy cross ero vnable to keen then cnorating, despite all-cut efforts by the crewnon thenselves. Dr. Hold said tha Navy crew worked all night to get the enying oosrating on ens of the beats, enly to have the Stooring mochaniaon break down a few boat-longths fren the dock. AS a resuit ef the continual broakdewns, Dr. Holdta party was unable to visit come isiends along the atoll's. wostora rin. Consaqufintly, one member of the survey tean will have te retura té Bikind later to visit thooo islends. Dr. Held said construction equinmesnt furnished by DASA te Holmes & Narvor, tho contractor, is in such poor condition that work has been slowed deun. Due to lack of Arny cocnoration, the Bikini presres is being sunported out of Hicken Fiold rather than rearby Kwjaliein. Tha story that Dr. Eeld picked wu» fresa personnel on Bikind was that DASA hed anproached Krajalein directly for. coonoration--and was premised full cooperation. However, erders later cans from Redotons Araonal, Alabama, that Kwajaloin sunnort bs oxtended only for emergencies. Dr. Held was told that individuals at Zeajalein still de all they can, but cn an Murder the table” basis. at .