. DRAFT REPORT C@TRK FIEID ._ .: ,' ERIWEXOKFIKID OFFICE - '"'E."RAKAGER, SABl'A FE OPBRATIONS~AEC z*:- 79177 July 1, 1950 to July 1, 1953 The inceptionof Pacific ProvingGround3n;lEasBen was containedin the objectivesof the Manager,Santa Fe Operations,33 early a3 July 1947, EniwetokAtoll ua3 designatedby the Presidentof the United States on December2, 19&T, as an atomic proving \ entrwted to the AtomicEnergy Commissionfor maintenance. Selectionof the site for teat operation3YBS based onmany conaideration3. Continentallocation3 could not safelybe used for tests of 3n orderwhich created such extensiveradiological ham. Physicalcondition of the Atoll. and the island chain providedsuitable combi.natio&of orientation, space, and clearedarea (overwater). Climatewas satisfactory. I3olation contributedto radiologicalsafety and overall security. Subsequentselection of the Bikini Atoll for the Castle teat serieswa3 an extensionof the basic consideration,influenced by the need for more Space within the provinggrounds, and logisticallywithin the provingground capabilitiesof the base facilitiesof Parry and Eniwetok I3hndS at Eniwetok Atoll. Selection of a contractorWBS made afteraareful investigationinto =. capabilities,experience, and reliability. Holmes & Narver,Inc., Los Angeles; California,had previousixperiene in Pacific Ocean sites and the necessarynucleus of personnelfor the work anticipated. A . l . * was enteredinto with this firm and their reconnaisanceparty reported to the Manager,SFOO, on Jsnuary9, 1949. On May 17, 1949,a definitive architect-enginee~construction-managementcontract wss accomplishedto implementconstruction of base facilitiesand erect scientificstructures. &ric t4 2nd C0ns-/rut-/len Administrationby SF0 was effectedthrough theAEngineeringnW representedby a contractadministrator. The basis of the contractwas an outgrowthof earlier experienceby SF0 and a recognitionof the necessaryflexibility required for the accomplish- ment of an undertakingwithout precedent, of such complexcomposition, and great variablesas to recommendthe architect-engineer-construction-managc- ment (by a singleresponsible entity) solution. The interestsof Los Alamos ScientificLaboratories and Departmentof Defensewere determinedand target dates for OperationGreenhouse were establishedat late winter 1950, and early spring 1951. The Pacific ProvingGround consists at present of two atolls in an area within the MarshallIslands group and within the Tnrst Territoryof the Pacific 1s)snds. This area is 150 x 350 miles in extent and is bounded b~ latitudes10' 15' - 120 - 45' ?I,,and longitudes160' 35' - 166' - 16' E. It is located appr0xFmatel.F5OOG statutemiles from the west coast of the : : United States, and 2700 statutemiles southwesterlyof Honolulu. Eniwetok ) --, .-. , Atoll, located at latitude11' 301 N and longitude162' - 20' E. is a coral atoll, circularin shape and approximately20 miles in diameter; The chain bf-islandsand reef is broken by two navigablepassages from Ocean to lagoon. Efiini Atoll, located at latitudeXl.' - 30' N., and longitu e C9 169 - 30', is aho a coral atoll, ov$lsr in shape, approtitely 24 miles i. - in length and I.4miles in width. The chain of islandsand reef follows . the usual atoll pattern. _-2 General physicalcharacteristics are similarin both Atolls. The land area is limitedand carefulcontrol is necesssryto avoid expending it through constructionoperations and wave action. The highestpoints are approximatelyI2 feet above high tide, with Bikini averagingout lower than Eniwetok. The waters within the lagoon at Bikini are not as calm as at Eniwetokdue to ocean waves enteringthe wide passage,and the ‘i/ length of the lagoonrunning with the prevailingwind. Climate is generallyfavorable with a range of temperaturesfrom 77° F to 88' F temperedby the northeasterlytrade winds. Humidityis high but is a not ef seriousdiscomfort because of excellentcirculation of the ocean- - borne winds. Precipitationcomes in tropicalshowers with seasonalma&mum --x July thru November,andminimumJanuarythruMarch, totfling 70 to 80 a. inches annually. Naturaldisasters from typhoon or seismicforces were -’ known to be unlikely,sdnce the area is out of the usual path of such forces. Possibilityof hostileaction in the form of attack on the areawas recognizedalso as remote,but emergencyplans were made to meet conditions of imminentdisaster or hostile attack. The services outlinedin the contractcomprised five major contractcondition: Job One - Beconnaisanceand PreliminaryStudy. Job Two - Formal report settingforth a constructionprograro and present- design. Job Three - To build base facilitiesand to design and constructsclen- r tific structures. ,. t ,- - -40 Job Four - To operate,maintain and manage csmps. Job Five - To provideskilled support to scientificpersonnel, rehabilitatestructures and facilities,perform salvage, storageand demolition. Activities,prior to July 1950 (Greenhouse),were under way in the pre- parationof detailedconstruction plans when on March 24, 1949, the MilitsryLiaison Committeelisted the tests proposedfor inclusionin the 1951 program. This was followedby meetingssponsored by Los Alamos ScientificLaboratory, and attendedby Arqy, Navy, Dtvision of Military Application,U. S. Air Force, Armed Forces SpecialWeapons Project,and MilitaryLiaison Committeerepresentatives. ARC plans were briefedto these representatives.On May 6, 1950, the Joint Chiefs of Staff approved GeneralVandenberg's recommendation,zmd General Quesada was designated Task Force Commander,J!CF'-3. Organization and financingproblems were worked out and the Greenhouseconstructionalnhase was well under =v. Task Group 3.1 was organizedMarch 17, 1950, composedof personnelfrom UC, the militaryservices, and severalcivilian contract firms. This Task Group was commandedby Dr. Alvin C. Graves. Conferenceswere held in Novemberto discusswith Holmes & Narver the Fniwetok Island construc- tion program and relationshipsbetween the contractorand the Construction Battalionwhich was to accomplisha part of the constructionwork. Command relationshipswere subjectof furtherconferences. It was decided that an ARC representativeshould be appointedas ResidentEngineer, responsible for coordinatingoperations of Holmes and Narver and the Army Construction -50 - Battalion,and for inspectionthroughout the Atoll. Impact of the KoreanWar was felt in the,S&mmerof 1950 bg'JointTask Force 3. XEC recognizedthe possibleeffects on prosecutionof the tests, ( and Chairman GordonDean made known to the Departmentof Defense the strong feelingthat there shouldbe no delay in scheduledtests. Some considera- tion was given to the transferof the 1951 tests to the Zone of Interior> and an unsettledperiod existeduntil, after extensivestudy and consulta- tion, on September1, '1950, JCS 1998/30was publishedrendering a decision in favor of the conductof the weaponstests at Eniwetok. The Commander, JTF-3 assumed overallresponsibility for the Eniwetokarea on February1, -- 1951. About this time it was decidedthat the proving groundwould be held $n a standby statusfor possiblefuture tests of atomic weapons. It WEZ wed that the test would be held April 15, 1951, or the earliest practicabledate thereafter. Dy June 1950, the planningof Greenhouse had progressedto permit detailedconsiderations. By the autumn of 1950, JTF-3 was well advancedin plans for the operationalphase. The last half of 1950 saw completionof base facilitiesat the Atoll, constructionof more than one hundred scientificstations, substantial completion of the mility, structures;and, over three hundred changesaffecting construct #$&Kz- program. Extensiveexploration in the field of soil behavior:andfounda- tion investigationsleading to a large groutingprogram for a large military test structurew&f%ccomplished. Increasingtonnage of cargo receivedat the proving groundsovertaxed warehousing and storagefacilities, cargo lighteringand stevedoringequipment and CIXWS. -e.. ,. Projectionsof manpowerrequirements were continuouslyunder study / ._ ookHJ * 31 . ! I adjustmentswere frequentlymade. The populationpeaks mounted over estzlmatesposing problemsof expandedfacilities. of Novemberthe shot island camps were completeand occupiedby constructionpersonnel. Considerableprogress ha8 been made on scientificstructures. Still re-designhad its effect on progress. By the end of 1950 an increasingnumber of items had reacheda Vunch List" stage. Occupancyby the AEC and users had started. Sec&ity controlsin exclusionareas now limited such areas to "Qn cleared - _ personneland necessitatedreassignments of the contractor18workers. The militarystructures program was on schedule. The Navy structures had been completedin December. The Air Forces structureswere delayed - -- by materialdifficultiesi later overcome. The status of many scientific z_~ stationswas satisfactory. --_-_; / With the beginningof 1951user occupancywas on the increase. Contractor /L activitieswere shiftingfrom 3&G%res constructionto W upport 7 of scientificusers w. Of the entire constructionprogram, comprisingmore than a thousandbuildings, stations, and installations,the laying of cos.xialcables caused the most concern. However,the assembly of the 2,476,000feet of this cable was accomplishedin time and checked out satisfactorily.Protective Helms over the cable and repair to cause- ways made last-momentearth movementa heavy job. The last of the major constructionfeatures= completedin the period April 23 to w 25, 1951. Dismantlingof experimentisland camps prior to each shot was accomplished and materialswere