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Show MX a 'p rio rity ' s ays general 'i in li : 1 s f ;f jH h I h p l xx n u- ( 1 f ' "" i By BRUCE LEE Record Editor This week the Iron County Record presents the second in a three part series examining the material presented to the approximately 70 southwest Utah citizens who traveled to Washington, D.C, as part of Utah-Nevada Utah-Nevada Citizens for MX. This article examines what the Air Force had to say ' about the current status of the proposed I system. WASHINGTON, D.C. "There has been no deviation in my view whatsoever what-soever that the strategic balance t between the Soviets and the United ! States ... is necessary," a four-star general told a group of citizens from southwest Utah which had traveled to the capital to voice its pro-MX views. Gen. Lew Allen, Jr., chief of staff, United States Air Force, told members of the Utah-Nevada Citizens for MX that the strategic balance with the USSR must be maintained, and that MX was the "number one priority" of the U.S. in maintaining that balance. ' "I remain convinced and the Air Force is convinced that the MX in a i survivable basing mode is properly our number one priority," he continued. .He said he was convinced that the current review being undertaken by a Blue Ribbon task force appointed by President Ronald Reagan would confirm that the Air Force is on the ' right approach. He did point out, however, that he didn't want to prejudge the study, but i that he felt it would simply offer a few ; changes, such as eliminating the SALT see MX on page A3 Gen. Lew Allen, Jr., Air Force chief of staff, discusses the proposed MX system with southern L'tahns. Allen told the group that he and the Air Force still feel that deployment of the system in the Great Basin is "number one priority." MX continued from page A 1 II ports suggested by the Carter ad-N ad-N ministration. He further stated that he was certain that the best location for deployment would be in the valleys of the Great Basin and that bases should be built in Coyote Springs, Nev. and near Milford. When Dr. Richard DeLauer, undersecretary un-dersecretary for defense, research and engineering, was questioned further concerning the study being conducted, he concurred with Allen, noting that the group was looking at different configurations con-figurations for the system and other possibilities. Dr. Robert J. Herman, assistant secretary of research, development and logistics, also concurred, saying, "It is an important, crucial decision, and some action is required." However, he also noted that it should be looked at carefully. The time in the Pentagon was also spent in a question and answer period with Brig. Gen. James P. McCarthy, special assistant for MX. McCarthy pointed out the method the Air Force would use in moving into the area and developing a base, if the area is actually selected as the site. He said that if approval were given in June, a site activation task force, skilled in starting a base, would be sent to the area soon after October "to develop interface between communities, com-munities, resources and the Air Force." For-ce." However, it was Cedar City Councilman Coun-cilman Lee Fife that raised the question that seemed to surface most throughout the day of meetings: How does the Air Force plan on dealing with impacts to the area? McCarthy replied that three things would happen. First a fiscal impact statement would be ordered, and he promised that the Four County MX Policy Board would play a big role in developing such. Second, a life support planning process would be started, including a discussion of how to accomodate construction workers. He said that until a decision on deployment was actually made that such studies could not be very helpful; "However, once we reach a base decision, we will get down to detailed planning," he said. Third, a transportation working group would be organized. "It will involve very detailed planning plan-ning as we get closer to the time," he concluded. |