_
ICLELUPIEK
4oisil
April 28, 1978
TO:
Hal Hollister
Director, Division of
gberationa] and Environmental]
Weep rement of Energy
Washington, D.C.
FROM:
SP #,; L,
SY
Tat Baifelfe
Pacific Northwes’ Liuecstenc:
Battelle Boulevard
4
20545
Richland, Washing: 3 52332
Telephone (5093
W. J. Bair
Telex 32-6345
Manager, Environment, Health, and
Safety Research Program
Battelle, Pacific Northwest
Laboratories
Richland, WA
99352
The Enewetak Advisory Group met on April 26 and 27, 1978 in Denver, Colorado.
Present were: W. L. Templeton, C. W. Francis, B. W. Wacnholz, J. Healy, R. 0. Gilbert,
R. C. Thompson, R. 0. McClellan, and W. J. Bair. The purpose of the meeting was
to consider the following questions:
1.
Is it possible to develop dose-related cleanup guidance that would assure
that doses to future residents of Enewetak Atoll would not significantly
exceed proposed EPA guidelines for transuranics?
2.
What advice can be given to the Defense Nuclear Agency on May 3, 1978 to
facilitate planning for cleanup of transuranics on Enewetak?
3.
What additional information can be obtained that could improve the confidence
4.
Can plowing be used as an effective cleanup measure for transuranics in soils?
of the dose estimates and cleanup criteria for transuranics?
The Advisory Group reviewed information and data provided by DOE-Division of
Occupational and Environmental Safety, Lawrence Livermore Laboratory, DOE-Nevada
Operations Office, and Defense Nuclear Agency and offers the following response to
the above questions. (This pertains only to transuranic elements and does not consider
radiation doses from other radionuclides which, the Advisory Group understands, will
delay the resettlement of some of the islands for many years.)
1.
The Enewetak Advisory Group does not find it possible to develop reasonable
Cleanup guidance that would assure that radiation doses from transuranics
to future residents would not significantly exceed proposed EPA guidelines.
Obviously, the more stringent the cleanup criteria, the greater the degree
of assurance; but uncertainties inherent in our present understanding of the
problem preclude absolute assurance. One cannot predict'with certainty the
contamination levels that will exist in the islands after cleanup--this must
be determined at a future time.
One cannot predict the lifestyle and
dietary habits of every individual who returns to the islands. Perhaps
most important, many of the factors that are involved in movement of
transuranics in the environment and the deposition and retention of
transuranics in human beings are not well established.
a
‘
j