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