The House Armed Services Committee authorized $14.1 million (HR 94-293, 1975) as requested as
the first of three increments of a $39.9 million cleanup project. In conference, the House acceded to
the Senate position and a one-time authorization of $20 million was passed (PL 94-107, 1975). The
House Appropriations Committee denied funding for the project, emphasizing the high per person
cost, and stated its belief that the minimum cost had not been presented to the Congress (HR
94-530, 1975). The Senate Appropriations Committee recommended full funding of the $20 million
authorization, recognizing the figure as a target (SR 94-442, 1975). In the Committee of
Conference, the Senate conferees agreed to defer funding for the project and the committee
expressed the belief that other alternatives should be explored by the DOD and DOI to determine the
best and most economical means of returning the Enewetak people (CR, 1975).
Efforts to gain funding approval continued into the spring of 1976. These efforts included making
arrangements for a visit to Enewetak in February 1976 for on-site inspection by a staff assistant to
the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and a staff assistant to the Senate
Military Construction Appropriations Subcommittee. Crucial hearings were held by the House
Committee on Appropriations on 29 March 1976. The Director, DNA, presented revised cleanup
plans reflecting diligent effort to achieve the minimum cost as requested at hearings the year
before.
In addition, several high-level supporting witnesses provided testimony to emphasize the
awkward position the U.S. Government would face if the problems created in the Pacific by nuclear
testing were not remedied before the U.S. terminated the Trust in 1981. Following extensive
questioning of witnesses, including an ERDA representative who reported on radiological conditions
at Enewetak and on protection of future residents, the committee approved $15 million of the $20
million requested by DNA. On 22 June 1976, the Senate Committee on Appropriations recommended
approval of the full $20 million appropriation. In the conference to resolve Senate and House
differences, the conferees approved the $20 million request. Subsequently, an appropriations bill was
passed by both the House and the Senate and signed into law. The act provided:
", ..that none of the funds appropriated under this paragraph may be expended for the
cleanup of Enewetak Atoll until such time as the Secretary of Defense receives
certification from appropriate administering authorities of the Trust Territory of the
Pacifie Islands that an agreement has been reached with the owners of the land of
Enewetak Atoll or their duly constituted representatives that this appropriation shall
constitute the total commitment of the Government of the United States for the
cleanup of Enewetak Atoll.
"All feasible economies should be realized in the accomplishment of this project,
through the use of military services'
construction
and
support
forces,
their
subsistence, equipment, material, supplies and transportation, which have been funded
to support ongoing operations of the military services and would be required for
normal operations of these forces. Further, such support should be furnished without
reimbursement from military construction funds." (PL 94-367, 1976.)
With funding authorized, the cleanup project was scheduled for implementation during fiscal year
1977, and execution to occur over a period of about 30 months.
There were a number of other activities of note between April 1975, when the EIS was filed, and July
1976, when funding was authorized. The cleanup plan that formed the basis of the EIS involved
disposal of contaminated debris and soil in the Lacrosse and Cactus craters on island Yvonne.
The
EIS discussed and dismissed several alternative disposal methods including ocean dumping. The DNA
concluded from discussions with the EPA that ocean dumping would not be permitted, or at best,
several years could be consumed in seeking a permit which would not be assured in advance and
might not be issued in any case. DNA held that to delay the cleanup project while seeking a permit
to dispose of contaminated soil and debris in the deep ocean might well mean the project could not
be done within the time, money and political constraints surrounding the cleanup. The AEC position
was that the cleanup of Enewetak might total about 10 Curies of plutonium, an insignificant amount
compared to that which was already in the water and sediments of the lagoon
49