SCP-6615 Safe ~ medium confidence
SCP-6615
Expected annual
$801K
One-time setup
$8.0M
Annual recurring
$728K
Personnel
2
One-time setup and investigation costs are potentially large (primarily R&D and field mitigation), while baseline annual operations are dominated by staffing, perimeter security, monitoring, and expendable mission hardware (~$728.5k/yr). Main drivers: R&D for high-heat unmanned systems and field mitigation/engineering if active exploration is pursued.
🏗️ One-Time Capital Costs Total: $8.0M
Rnd High Temp Systems $4.0M
[#12] R&D program to develop high-heat/high-anomaly-capable unmanned systems (materials R&D, prototypes, shielding, high-temp electronics).
Advanced Physics Research $1.0M
[#23] Seed funding for targeted theoretical/experimental physics program if anomaly warrants (postdocs, specialized equipment).
Insurance Reserve $1.0M
[#26] Seed insurance/reserve fund for catastrophic escalation, large-scale mitigation or property claims.
Tethered Probe System $600K
[#14] Tethered/probe descent system: engineering, winch system, active cooling and field deployment vehicle.
Engineering Stabilization $500K
[#19] One-time engineering stabilization or hazard mitigation (excavation, grouting, retaining structures) if required.
Geotechnical Investigation $200K
[#15] Deep-site geotechnical mapping: GPR, LiDAR, boreholes and drilling rigs for baseline subsurface assessment.
Sensors Procurement $150K
[#13] Procurement of high-temp thermal imagers, hardened cameras, non-optical sensors, and telemetry hardware.
Emergency Response Fund $150K
[#18] Establishment of rapid-response contingency fund for sudden sinkhole expansion or hazardous events.
Drone Replacement $100K
[#10] Replacement of lost Mark II unmanned drone (off-the-shelf or lightly modified high-heat UAV).
Legal And Municipal Coordination $75K
[#20] Covert payments, legal fees, and municipal coordination to maintain cover narratives and delays in disclosure.
Sample Retrieval Analysis $60K
[#16] Specialized handling and laboratory analysis of retrieved samples (high-temp containment, metallurgical/mineralogical testing).
Civilian Relocation $40K
[#21] Temporary housing, compensation and relocation assistance for affected households (Whitehall family/neighbors).
Amnestic Therapy $30K
[#7] One-time amnestic therapy sessions and relocation support for Whitehall family (initial program costs).
Cover And Public Safety $30K
[#8] Initial cordon, temporary fencing, signage, temporary barricade rental and immediate cover-story materials/press management.
Monitoring Setup $30K
[#17] Setup of seismic sensors, temperature probes, gas monitors, tiltmeters and telemetry for structural/environmental monitoring.
Training Initial $25K
[#27] Initial training and safety for specialist teams (high-temp ops, confined space, PPE certification).
Forensic Analysis $9K
[#5] One-time forensic/materials lab tests (FTIR, GC-MS, microscopy, isotope analysis) to analyze ink/paper/soil.
Initial Research And Lab Setup $2K
[#2] High-resolution scanning and processing of notebook (one-time scan/OCR/metadata entry).
Archival Conservation Supplies $2K
[#4] One-time archival supplies: acid-free sleeves, gloves, cleaning supplies, humidity indicator cards.
Facilities $1K
[#1] Secure storage locker setup at Site-8: shelf, acid-free sleeves and basic environmental control.
Equipment $0
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🔄 Annual Recurring Costs Total: $728K/yr
Perimeter Security $300K/yr
[#9] 24/7 perimeter security for sinkhole: contracted guards or site security detail, vehicles and shift coverage.
Staff Wages $140K/yr
[#3, #6] Basic security FTE (locker access control, badge control) and assigned research time (0.5–1.0 FTE researchers) — fully burdened salaries.
Rnd Program Maintenance $100K/yr
[#12] Ongoing maintenance and support for any high-heat unmanned systems R&D program and prototypes.
Expendable Hardware Replacement $100K/yr
[#25] Replacement cycle for expendable probes/drones lost during high-risk missions and iteration of experimental hardware.
Public Relations $30K/yr
[#24] Long-term town engagement and community goodwill programs to maintain local compliance and reduce inquiries.
Drone Mission Costs $20K/yr
[#11] Operational costs per mission (planning, pilot, telemetry, travel, expendables) — baseline average assumed ~1 mission/yr.
Long Term Monitoring $10K/yr
[#17] Telemetry, sensor maintenance and data transmission costs for environmental/structural monitoring.
File Maintenance $10K/yr
[#22] Ongoing file maintenance, redaction support, audits and info-security compliance overhead.
Training Refreshers $10K/yr
[#27] Annual refresher training and safety drills for specialist teams.
Amnestic Followup $6K/yr
[#7] Periodic psychological follow-ups, monitoring and potential relocation stipend.
Archival Digital Storage $2K/yr
[#2] Secure digital storage, redundant backups, and IT maintenance for scanned notebook files and access controls.
Facilities Maintenance $500/yr
[#1] Ongoing utilities/maintenance for containment locker and basic environmental control.
Supplies And Consumables $500/yr
[#4] Annual replenishment: replacement sleeves, gloves, cleaning supplies, humidity indicator cards.
Research And Monitoring $0/yr
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Logistics And Transport $0/yr
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Cover Story And Legal $0/yr
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Cost Scenarios
📊 Baseline (baseline) $728K/yr
93.0% probability / year
Normal uneventful year with containment in storage, routine monitoring, perimeter security, minimal missions and standard upkeep.
no new sinkhole activity no major field deployments routine monitoring and maintenance
🚨 Minor Incident $978K/yr
5.0% probability / year +$250K vs baseline
Localized escalation requiring additional missions, sample retrieval, targeted mitigation and emergency response (non-catastrophic).
sinkhole shows increased activity need for additional drone missions and sample analysis limited hazard mitigation required
🚨 Major Breach $3.7M/yr
2.0% probability / year +$3.0M vs baseline
Significant escalation: sinkhole expands or behaves aggressively, requiring large-scale mitigation, emergency relocation, and initiation of major R&D/response programs.
rapid sinkhole enlargement civilian exposure/major infrastructure threat decision to commence full-scale R&D and mitigation
👥 Personnel 2 total
Role Count Notes
Security Officer / MTF Agent 1 [#3] One site security FTE assigned to locker access control, badge management and occasional escort.
Research Scientist 1 [#6] 0.5–1.0 FTE research time for file maintenance, literature review and coordination (budgeted within staff_wages).
📋 Confidence Notes
Analyst notes provide detailed line items and ranges; small recurring costs are well-defined (storage, staffing, monitoring), but large uncertainties remain around field escalation, R&D program scope and one-time mitigation—hence moderate confidence.
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