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MINERALS YEARBOOK, 1967 
 
 Recommending against construction of the controversial Rampart hydroelectric
project on the Yukon River, Secretary of the Interior Udall proposed substitute
programs for Alaska development. Included were recommendations for Department
of Transportation surveys and planning studies to determine the feasibility
of extending the Alaska Railroad into remote northern areas, and for a 5-year
$50 million program for Federal mineral survey and research work. 
 The Congress extended the operations of the Federal Field Committee for
Development Planning in Alaska by authorizing appropriations of $300,000
annually through 1970. The Field Committee was economic planning for the
State. The Comeconomic planning for he State. The Committee planned expansion
of its staff and studies of mineral and mining laws and practices, public
land laws affecting Alaska, transportation and economic development, and
of the Alaska Power Survey. 
 In fostering State programs, the committee assisted in arranging for a grant
to the University of Alaska's Institute of Social, Economic, and Government
Research by the Department of Commerce for a study to develop an Alaska mineral
policy and legal analysis. The study was aimed at coordinating and improving
Federal, State, and private industry attempts to bolster the State's mineral
industry. The need for increased exploration and mapping of Alaska mineral
resources was cited as well as the need for legislative changes to encourage
exploration and development. The study was expected to aid the Field Committee
in instituting new programs related to mineral development in the State.

 Construction on the Snettisham hydroelectric project got underway when the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers awarded a $7.1 million contract for the first
phase of the work. Snettisham, 28 miles southeast of Juneau, was expected
to provide power to the distributor, Alaska Electric Light & Power Co.,
at 8.5 to 9 mills per kilowatt hour or at roughly a 50-percent reduction
of previous rates. The first phase work included preparation of roads, powerhouse
and camp areas, airfield embankment, and construction of the camp and accessory
buildings. Also included were the driving of a diversion tunnel 10 feet 
in diameter and 600-feet long and the construction of boat and float plane
landing facilities. First power from Snettisham was scheduled for 1972. 
 Congress authorized the sale to private industry of the nonmilitary sections
of the Alaska Communications System (ACS), which had been operated by the
U.S. Air Force since 1962 and had served government and private users since
1900. High rates, particularly on out-of-State calls, and the urgent need
for upgrading facilities were the primary reasons for the move to dispose
of the $20 million (estimated) system. Private communications utilities have
indicated interest in acquiring the ACS network, which includes most of Alaska's
long-distance telephone and telegraph lines. 
 Communications Satellite Corporation (Comsat) was urged to consider taking
over ACS. In addition to the advantages to Alaska of moderh communications
technology, State and Congressional officials pointed out that Alaska offered
an opportunity to develop communication satellite services in an area with
the characteristics of an emerging nation but without the problems of operating
in a foreign country. At yearend Comsat was preparing to send a study team
to Alaska to investigate the proposal. 
 The Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) proceeded with camp installation and
test drilling at Amchitka in the Rat Islands far out on the Aleutian chain.
The drilling program was designed to determine if the island was a suitable
location for a new underground testing site for nuclear weapons. Amchitka
had been the site in 1965 of Project Long Shot an 80-kiloton nuclear explosion
to provide scientists with basic data for distinguishing between natural
earth disturbances and underground nuclear blasts. 
 The 1967 drilling apparently confirmed that rock conditions were satisfactory
for nuclear testing. AEC was drilling a 6.000 foot, 90-inch-diameter hole.
The Commission announced a definite decision to go ahead with at least one
underground nuclear blast at Amchitka. Scheduled for the spring of 1968,
the blast would he ~ne of the most powerful underground nuclear explosions
in history. 
 The Bureau of Land Management announced a proposal to classify 2.4 million
acres of land in a corridor from Livengood