a
7
g
ogrammin
Plan ping and Pr
_
a: elearing of vegelation: and construction ofroads in connection with
kine From October 1972 until a court hearing tn June 1973, AFWL
public
pat ed a draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), held
rags at Ujelang Atoll in an attempt to obtain dri-Enewetak support,
heat! sreanized the PACE test plan. The court hearing resulted in
ane lation of the cratering experiments; however,the geological portions
ACE were permitted to continue as the Exploratory Program on
Eniwetok (EXPOE) which is described in a subsequent section. 20
Before the restraining order and injunction halted PACE activities on
the atoll, a 19-acre area covering approximately one-fifth of Aomon had
peen excavated to form a large depression for use as a bed for a 1000-
pound high explosive parametric test shot. The court ordered that the area
be restored to its original profile. DNA obtained Mr. Mitchell's approval of
4 modified stipulation to accomplish the restoration in conjunction with
the forthcoming radiological cleanup project or, if the project were
cancelled, as a separate action.2! Whenthe cleanup project was approved
and funded, restoration of the PACE test bed wasincluded in the cleanup
project operation plan.
During preparations for PACE, large quantities of high explosives were
stockpiled on Medren. These became excess when PACE wascancelled,
and they were transferred to the TTPIfor use in channel clearance in the
Marshall Islands District. Unfortunately, the ship chartered by the TTPI to
remove the explosives was overloaded, foundered, and sank a few
hundred miles from Enewetak Atoll; however, the crew was rescued.
ASSIGNMENTOF RESPONSIBILITIES: JULY-NOVEMBER 1972
On 17 July 1972, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International
Security Affairs, ASD(ISA), advised DNA that DOD plannedto conduct
the cleanup of Enewetak Atoll with the technical support of AEC. He
requested that DNA initiate planning actions with AEC to identify the
scope of workand the resources necessary for this mission.22 During the
next month, DNA presented a series of introductory briefings on the
project for officials of the Office of the Secretary of Defense and Joint
Chiefs of Staff (JCS) and met with AEC representatives to develop a
preliminary planning strategy.23 The Director, DNA, Lieutenant General
Carroll H. Dunn, USA, went to Enewetak on 2 September 1972 for a
personal survey of the situation.24 The following week, on 7 September
1972, there was a major conference in Washington, D.C., attended by
representatives from over a dozen departments and agencies. The primary