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Show MX moving ahead Judging from presentations made to the Utah MX Working Group Feb. 25, work on the massive missile system seems to be moving forward at full speed. Progress reports on over a half dozen separate MX-related studies were provided to the group at their monthly meeting, held this time in Cedar City. By the end of the meeting, the message was clear: the Reagan Administration's Ad-ministration's decision to restudy the MX and possible alternatives has not slowed the MX planning process at all. Gen. James McCarthy, the Air Force's special assistant for MX, did list the alternatives now being examined by the Department of Defense. They include air and road mobile basing, expanding existing Minuteman missiles to a multiple protective shelter system, and three sea-based options-expanding options-expanding the Trident submarine system, placing the missiles on surface ships and a shallow underwater missile (SUM) system. "We're still continuing all actions for the MX," McCarthy emphasized. The general also reported on the comment process for the Draft Environmental En-vironmental Impact Statement, saying, "We've had some comments flowing in, but very few." He said a hearing schedule on the document was in the process of being developed, but locations and dates had not yet been determined. "We've had a lot of requests from different localities to hold hearings in their areas," McCarthy Mc-Carthy said, but added the number of hearings per state would likely be few, due to the fact they must be held in four states-Utah, Nevada, Texas and New Mexico. The Working Group also discussed the possibility of Reagan-proposed budget cuts affecting the amount of MX impact aid given to the area. Courtney Larsen of the Governor's office said Utah was having a hard time getting Federal funds without even taking the proposed cuts into consideration. con-sideration. George Ormiston, of the Four Corners Cor-ners Regional Commission, also painted a bleak picture, noting that "not only does it look like the Four Corners Regional Commissicn is in trouble, but also other economic development agencies and programs " Gen. McCarthy assured the group that although there may be changes in the methods of funding, the impact aid would still make its way to the area. "1 have every confidence we'll get it," Ik; said. Also, McCarthy added, "The Air Force has a vested interest in seem;.; the area funded. We'll be living hoi -too." Among the progress reports on studies received by the Working Group -Gen. McCarthy said a contract, totalling over $11 million, had been awarded for operating base comprehensive com-prehensive planning, and that work c the project would begin within the nex; month. This effort will involve planning and design of base facilities. -A "life support study" is schedule! for completion Mar. 19, with the Arm Corps of Engineers now coming up with additional factors to study. This report will examine different ways to structure, struc-ture, organize and sustain construction camps. -Eldon Erickson, regional director of the Office of Economic Adjustment, distributed copies of a report outlining community assistance programs with the recently-completed Trident submarine sub-marine construction near Seattle, Wash. "This is a method to share their experiences and the lessons they learned. It could be very helpful t you," Erickson said. The OEA official also distributed copies of a "Boom Town Annotate 1 Bibliography." --The "803 study," designed tj examine the impact on existing federal agencies MX impact aid requests would have, "is in a very early stage," said Paul Sage of the OEA's Washington, D.C., office, but he distributed a memo outlining the interviews that had already been conducted with varying Federal agencies. -Starr, of the Policy Board, said the local contribution to the DEIS comment process would be probably be completed com-pleted by Feb. 27, after a two-day retreat at Brian Head attended by members of the citizen review committee. com-mittee. Starr said his office would take a fev weeks to review and compile the comments, but said they planned on submitting them to the state well in advance of its Mar. 25 deadline. |