was of no
consequence and did not interfere with preparation for the firing of the
C Mohawx
device, Survey results at H+4 hr are shown in Fig. 2.7.
2.2.9—Extremely heavy local contamination resulted from the firing of
Mohawk \device on Eberiru. In addition, significant amounts of contaminatlon were deposited on the northern islands of the atoll. Survey results are
shown in Fig. 2.8. Certain recovery operations on Eberiru and adjacent
{slands were delayed for several days as a result of the contamination,
2.2.10—In order to fire the [Apache
~device in the Mike crater off
Teitetripucchi, a considerable amount of earth-moving was required.
This
was necessary because of the need for an unchstructed I{ne-of-sight from
the bunker on Bogon to the shot barge in the crater. When the Seminole] was
fired on Bogon, it dug a rather large crater and threw up considerable debris
that had to be moved to meet the line-of-sight requirements. Since contam{nation levels in the Teitelripucchi-Bogon complex were of the order of 4 to
5 r/br at the time the construction wera was required, extra precautions
were necessary to ensure against: overexposure of equipment operators.
Ac-
cordingly, a cab shielded by 1/2 to 1 fn. of lead was built onto one of the
bulldozers. This bulldozer was used in most of the work of moving the contaminated sand and operators were changed frequently. The highest dosage
recetved by any one operator was approximately 700 mr after about six hours
of operation of this bulldozer.
Firing of the}
Apache
“|device produced exceptionally heavy contamlnation throughout
the upper islands of the atoll. The H+4 hr survey results
are abown in Fig, 2.9. Water {n the north end of the lagoon was highly contaminated for a considerable distance from the shot Island, and as the allt
and debris were moved out by the lagoon currents, the contamination spread
widely. Two days after the shot was fired, the swimming beach at Japtan
had to ve closed, since the water-contamination level had exceeded the established tolerance of 50,000 disintegrations per minute per liter. Three
days after firing, the beaches on Eniwetok aud Parry Islands were also
closed, The beach on Parry Island was closed for two days; the other two,
for approximately seven.
2.2.11—Decision to fire the (Huron[device in the Mike crater off Teiteiriucchi was based in part on the contamination levels resulting from the
Apache
shot. Iniormation regarding this contamination was obtained
through sp€cial radiological surveys by helicopter and T-boat of the crater
area and adjacent islands. The contaminailon of these arcas did not, however, interfere with preparations for firing the[HuronJ device, and although its
detonation produoed heavy contamination in the rorthern Islands of the atoll
(see Fig. 2.10), the radiation levels did not materially interfere with recovery operations, Water contaniunation from radioactive silt and debris
was heavy along the north and west reefs.
- 21 -