From: W. J. Bair.
3.
In the next few weeks the following should be accomplished to improve
the capability to make dose assessments and guide cleanup activities:
a.
The analysis of coconut. and associated soils now in progress at LLL
Should be expedited.
b.
The urine bioassay data from Bikini should be obtained and analyzed
for use by the Advisory Group. We believe it would be informative
to compare estimates of the body burdens of transuranics in the people
who have been living on Bikini with the levels of transuranics in
the environment and in the food harvested from Bikini islands.
c.
A data bank that accumulates all data from ali organizations
participating in Marshall Islands studies should be started and made, |
‘ available to all persons involved in the Marshall Islands program.
./
d.
The organization and responsibilities of all DOE contractor
personnel should be reviewed and clearly defined.
e.
Questions raised concerning possible bias in IMP eat readings
relative to soil Am and Pu levels should be resolved.
f.
An inventory of all current Enewetak projects for use by the
Advisory Group should be provided.
Further suggestions will be forwarded following the next meeting
of the Advisory Group the weex of June 5,°197&. We plan to
review the calibration of the IMP and the Am-Pu soil data;
review new data Dr. Robison expects to bring from Enewetak;
comment on the draft dose assessment report; consider long-term
issues related to final phases of the cleanup operations,
certification and reassessment of dose based on contamination levels
remaining after cleanup; and review organizational responsibilities.
4.
Plowing may reduce the surface soil concentrations and hence reduce the
potential inhalation problem.
Plowing is unlikely to reduce plant uptake,
Since it merely redistributes the transuranics in the plowed area.
Decisions on plowing should await the results of the proposed plowing
experiment to be conducted at Enewetak. We recommend that a statistician
participate in the planning of the experiment and analysis of the soil
sampling data. Since DNA has requested advice on this technique,
the experiment should be conducted as soon as possible.
It has also
been drawn to our attention that on Enjebi, for instance, the depth to
beach rock is variable and hence consistent plowing to depth may be
impracticable. '
In addition, experience has shown that there are large quantities of
_unexploded ordnance and other dangerous hardware in the subsurface.
These pose to the operators a potential risk that may outweigh the
benefits to be obtained from plowing.
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Task Group Members
ey
Tom McCraw
Joe Deal
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ma dhan
20199] 3
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