135
Planning and Programming
Thecritical factor in the selection of D-Day was the time required for
mobilization of manpower and material. For a major project, a minimum
of 180 days normally is required from the time personnel and supplies are
requisitioned until they arrive at the work site. The Logistics and
Manpower Working Groups insisted that even with Force Activity
Designator (FAD)II, a relatively high military priority, and expedited
action at all levels, an absolute minimum of 90 days was required. Evenso,
to meet a 1S June 1977 D-Day, the absolute latest date the mobilization
effort could begin was I5 March 1977.
The first alternative, which required that base camps using tents be
erected in 60 days, was clearly impractical for the more permanent type
camp being proposed for Lojwa. Thethird alternative was strongly favored
by ERDA and Armyplanners. Navy and Air Force planners were prepared
to support either the second or third alternative although they, too,
preferred the latter. The Manpower and Logistics Working Groupsalso
preferred the third alternative, but believed that they could support the
secondif certain conditions were met:(I) the project must be designated as
FAD II; and (2) mobilization must begin by 15 March 1977. Manpower and
material for base camp construction mustbe requisitioned a minimum of
90 days before construction forces were due to arrive on D-Day. Since
actual cleanup operations would not begin until after the mobilization
phase was completed at D+5 months, manpower and equipment for
cleanup could be ordered later; however, the manpower and material
required for camp construction would have to
be identified and
requisitioned as soon as possible. This meant that mobilization could not
be delayed until the OPLAN had beenfinalized and approved, but must
begin immediately (March) if D-Day were to be 15 June 1977.
Based upon these considerations, BG Lacy selected the second
alternative and approved starting mobilization on 15 March 1977. The
deciding factor in establishing 15 June 1977 as D-Day was general
agreement that the momentum established at the conference should be
maintained. Other factors were avoidance ofcost escalations and the need
to demonstrate to the dri-Enewetak, and to the world, that the United
States was aboutto fulfill its promises.328,329
_
To accommodate both the lengthened schedules and the 15 June 1977 DDay, the operations schedule of the CONPLAN (Figure 2-7) had to be
revised in the OPLAN. The determining factor in the CONPLANschedule
was contaminated soil removal and containment, which was estimated to
require approximately 2 years. Since the actual extent of soil
contamination, especially subsurface contamination, was unknown, the
planners could only make a rough estimate of its magnitude. The OPLAN
acknowledged this in several places: