174
RADIOLOGICAL CLEANUP OF ENEWEIAK ALOLL
Moonizanon
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Navy task group during the Mobilization Phase arrived on 3 November
1977. The USS JUNEAU and USS ALAMO arrived from Okinawa and
offloaded two LCUs, and three LCM-8s.9° During the Mobilization Phase,
these Navy opportune sealifts delivered over 29,600 measurement tons of
cargo at no cost to the project, a savings tn sealift costs of well over
$1,600,000.
The delivery of on-atoll critical building supplies, and the use of H&NPTD journeymen to complete some utility systems and other critical
facilities significantly improved the status of Lojwa Campconstruction. By
mid-October, USASCH was able to report that they were slightly ahead of
the original construction schedule. The camp’s 420,000-gallon steel water
tank was on hand and was being assembled. In the process, Private First
Class Kelvin W. Tea, USA, placed over 15,000 bolts, one of the more
formidable tasks in Lojwa Camp construction. Completion of the fresh
water and salt water distribution systems was still being delayed by a
nationwide shortage of pipe. Consequently, food service, shower, latrine,
and sewer facilities would not be completed by the scheduled [8 November
1977 mobilization completion date.96
FIGURE 3-19. ARMY AMPHIBIOUS LIGHTER (LARC).
4
PERMITS: 1975 - 1977
On 13 September 1977, a detachment from Underwater Demolition
Team Eleven, commanded by Lieutenant Commander J. F. Sandoz, USN,
arrived to begin channel clearance and underwater demolition work
22 September 1977.90.91
In addition to delays in camp construction, extended delays were
encountered in obtaining three Corps of Engineers’ permits for the
project. There was some doubt that permits were necessary, since the
Environmental Impact Statement documented the concurrence of those
concerned with the cleanup project actions to be covered by the three
LARCs. Despite heavy afternoon rains, they were offloaded in 14 hours.
The second shallow-draft barge arrived on 2 October 1977 with
October 1975, POD agreed to expedite action to provide permits for: ()
disposal of noncontaminated debris in the lagoon; (2) clearance (by coral
demolition) of channels into certain islands; and (3) crater containment of
contaminated soil and debris. POD’s costs in providing permits would be
(described in the next chapter). In addition, this team supervised the
storage, in an explosives bunker on Medren, of 181 measurement tons of
explosives delivered by the Navy ammunition ship, USS HALEAKOS, on
On 28 September 1977, a Navy task group consisting of the USS
MOUNT VERNON, USS MOBILE, and USS DENVER arrived at
Enewetak to deliver 6,617 measurement tons of cargo, including two
subsistence, cement, attapulgite, and other supplies.?2 The USS
MOLALAarrived on 3 October 1977 and delivered another YC barge. 3
On 12 October 1977, the Navy Water-Beach Cleanup Team arrived at the
atoll and set up a base of operations in Building 4 near the other Navy
activities The team consisted of one officer and 15 enlisted personnel from
Harbor Clearance Units One and Two; and oneofficer and three enlisted
personnel from Team 2!, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit
One.%4
On 21 October 1977, the USS FORT FISHER delivered 3,161
measurementtons of cargo, including two more Army LARCs. The last
proposed permits. Nevertheless, DNA decided to obtain them and, tn
financed from cleanup design funds alreadyallocated.?’ It turned out to be
more than a simple paper transaction.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in their action on the permits,
requested that DNA meet several conditions, including revegetation of
cleared areas; replacement of soil removed in excising plutonium
con
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nesting season; periodic radiation sampling in terrestrial and aquatic
resources; and semiannual reports to the Fish and Wildlife Service on
radiation found within fish and wildlife.98 Field Command advisedthat the
Environmental Impact Statement covered all of the conditions except the