¢ Commissioners é -2- JUN 1 1972 Pacific Cratering Experiment (PACE) personnel on the preliminary findings of the AEC survey team. DNA/PACE decided to continue their work on Runit in preparation for their high explosive excavation experiments while the Scripps Institute personnel decided to leave the Atoll. The AEC survey team advised the DNA/PACE personnel that they did not consider PACE radiological precautions as adequate. On returning to Kwajalein on May 20, Mr. Ray sent a message to Air Force authorities recommending that Runit Island be quarantined. This recommendation was based upon the fact that the road between the dock and the PACE work areas passes directly through the highly contaminated area and that trucks and other earthmoving equipment were transiting the contaminated areas and were being taken off Runit Island to other islands. His recommendation indicated the need for cessation of all operations and traffic to Runit Island until adequate survey and decontamination procedures could be established to prevent further aggravation through dispersion of contamination to other islands and/or shipping facilities. The analysis of several fragments collected by the AEC survey team is now underway at LLL and should be available within the next week. Other environmental samples collected by the team will require several weeks for analysis. The Micronesian visitors were not informed of this contamination problem. DNA has advised AEC that the PACE work on Runit has been discontinued and the Island is under quarantine. General Carroll H. Dunn, Director, DNA, has indicated to General Giller that their immediate plans are to send a DNA radiological survey team to Runit Island, with appropriate _ AEC technical assistance, to conduct a detailed survey of the PACE work areas. The results of their survey will be used to determine the feasibility of conducting the PACE experiment as planned, or with appro- priate precautions or the necessity of selecting another site. ORIGINAL SIGNED BY MARTIN B. BILES Martin B. Biles, Director Division of Operational Safety n bec: General Manager (2) 7———-S-Maj, Gen. E. B. Giller, USAF, AGMMA J. H. Rubin, AGMES SECY (2) Contact: 2001144 L. Joe Deal, xt. 4093