82
RADIOLOGICAL CLEANUP OF ENEWETAK ATOLL
normally cannot directly let construction contracts financed by MILCON
funds but must go through the military construction agencies; e.g., the
NavalFacilities Engineering Command or the Army Corps of Engineers.
Therefore, DNA planned to have the Pacific Ocean Division (POD) ofthe
Corps of Engineers accomplish the actual contracting, including design,
preparation, award of the contract, and monitoring of the contractor’s
performance. As the using agency, or client, for whom the work would be
done, DNA was to furnish basic concepts for accomplishing and
supporting the cleanup project. Responsibility for developing these
concepts was assigned to DMA’s operational element, Field Command,
DNA.
Field Command, DNA, a joint service organization located in
Albuquerque, New Mexico, was commanded in 1974 by Rear AdmiralL.
V. Swanson, USN. In addition to being responsible for developing cleanup
concepts, Field Command was tasked to assume the responsibility for
operation and maintenance of the base camp at Enewetak Atoll, effective
1 January 1974. Field Command’s Logistics Directorate, under Colonel!
Alan C. Esser, USA, was assigned primary staff responsibility for both
efforts. On 23-25 January 1974, representatives from DNA’s Headquarters
and Field Command traveled to Enewetak Atoll to inspect base camp
operations and maintenance and to confer with POD officials on cleanup
project concepts. Major General John McEnery, USA, Deputy Director
See EEL
for Operations and Administration, DNA, headed the conference, which
included Mr. Earl Eagles, of DNA; COL Esser, Lieutenant Colonel
Donald B. Hente, USAF, and Mr. David Wilson, of Field Command;
CommanderFritz Wolff, of AEC Headquarters; Mr Roger Ray, of AEC-
NV; Mr. Harry Brown, of DOI; Colonel John Hughes, USA, of POD, and
Mr. Earl Gilmore, of H&N. While radiological planning awaited several
key decisions, the conference established several basic concepts for base
camp rehabilitation and noncontaminated cleanup including:®’
a. A Joint Task Group (JTG) would be formed to coordinate and
control the cleanup operation.
b. A temporary base camp would beestablished in the northern islands
to support cleanup in that area and reduce transportation time and
requirements.
c. Costs would be reduced by using existing military equipment.
d. There would be only one contractor at Enewetak who would operate
the base camp as well as accomplis
e actual clean
the Engineering Study.
e. POD would serve as contracting office for the cleanup contract.
f. DOI would have POD contract for their rehabilitation program,
possibly using the same contractor as DOD usedfor cleanup.
Planning and Programming
83
Subsequent Congressional actions precluded use of a contractor for the
cleanup itself; however, the first three concepts remained valid
throughout subsequent cleanup planning.
On 30 January 1974, Field Command formed the Field Command
Planning Group of civil engineering, finance, and supply and services
experts to develop concept plans, cost estimates, and MILCON program
documents for the cleanup project.88 Major Earl Kinstey, USAF, of
AFWL, who had been the radiological safety officer for the PACE program
and who had participated in the radiological cleanup at Palomares, Spain,
served as radiological advisor to the Field Command Planning.Group until
his retirement when he was replaced by Dr. E. T. Bramlitt of Field
Command.
The group’s first planning effort was to develop plans and
recommendations based on the January !974 conference at Enewetak.
They included the proposed manning for a JTG staff, some of whom
would be assigned on a 3- to 4-year permanent changeof station (PCS)
basis to Hawaii and work at Enewetak on a rotational temporary duty
(TDY) basis to provide engineering and management continuity. Had
other planning and funding efforts remained on schedule, this PCS group
would have initiated and completed the entire cleanup project. The
concept later was dropped when funding problems made it difficult to
implement. The group also recommended that Field Command be
delegated responsibility and authority at the earliest moment to manage
the cleanup project and to coordinate with POD on project definition and
base camp rehabilitation.8? Headquarters, DNA did not accept that
recommendation in its entirety;?9 however, Field Command was
subsequently assigned responsibility for operational management of the
cleanup project. ?!
During the 2d session of the 93d Congress, Headquarters, DNA
continued its efforts to obtain authorization and appropriation, with
hearings before committees of both Houses.92.93.94,95.96 At the same
time, work was progressing on devetopment of the EIS.
THE DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT:
APRIL-SEPTEMBER 1974
The NEPA requires that an Elo be prepared for any niyor acuion which
significantly affects the quality of the human environment.’’ The act
covers not only actions which might have adverse effects but also those
intended to have beneficial effects, such as the cleanup, rehabilitation, and
resettlement of Enewetak Atoll. DNA assumed the responsibility for
preparation of an EIS which covered not only the cleanup project but also