64 RADIOLOGICAL CLEANUP OF ENEWETAK ATOLL Planning and Programming Project. beginning of DNA’s involvement in the Enewetak Cleanup Nixon’s nt Preside notified y Shortly after the conference, DOI formall 65 unfinished memoslay on the desks in some buildings, while landing craft sat rusting where they had been pulled from the water. Everywhere nature—in the form of impenetrable brush, termite burrows, rot, and rust—was reclaiming the atoll from the ruins of an advanced personal representative for the MSN, Ambassador Franklin Haydn Williams, of the following decisions: an a. The United States was phasing down research programs to permit TTPI. the to atoll the of early return b. Cleanup and rehabilitation of three islands—Medren (Elmer), Japtan technology.6.7.8 What many had not believed when the nuclear test moratorium began in 1958 was an obvious fact in 1972—nuclear weapons testing had ended at Enewetak Atoll. , Nuclear testing had left its unmistakable mark. The preliminary radiological survey found potentially significant radiation hazards on the (David), and Ananij (Bruce) —could begin in 1973. c. Subject to TTPI permission to continue the four test programs then at the scheduled, the United States was prepared to release the atoll islands of Bokombako (Belle), Enjebi (Janet), Aomon (Sally), and Runit (Yvonne). More detailed surveys would be required to identify locations and to determine degrees of contamination. More study and planning would be necessary to develop removal and disposal procedures for the end of 1973.4 nt These decisions were made public on 18 April 1972 in a joint stateme TTPI, the ~ by Ambassador Williams and the High Commissioner of the prior to that, stated cement Honorable Edward E. Johnston. The announ contaminated soil and debris.? the same actual resettlement ofthe atoll, it would be necessary to carry out PACIFIC CRATERING EXPERIMENT: 1971 - 1972 ons was not released until 16 September 1976, and formal cleanup operati did not begin until 1977. Preparation for PACE had been underway at Enewetak for almost a year prior to AEC’s preliminary radiological survey in May 1972. PACE was a DNA-funded program conducted by the U.S. Air Force Weapons DETERMINING THE SCOPE OF WORK: MAY 1972 and_ initial On 10-24 May 1972, a preliminary radiological survey DNA, AEC, from s ntative represe by reconnaissance of the atoll was made l nmenta Enviro n Wester (EPA) 's the Environmental Protection Agency were joined Research Laboratory, and the University of Washington. They TTPI, and the on 18-20 May 1972 by representatives of the U.S. Air Force, s Corporation Service Legal esian Micron ys, attorne r dri-Enewetak andthei ewetak (MLSC), for conferences and tours of some major islands. Dri-En the dri-Enewetak, representatives included Iroij (Chief) Johannes Peter of g Community Iroij Lorenzi Jitiam of the dri-Enjebi, and the Ujelan they were since nd Council. This was their first visit to their homela in the pants partici key several d removed in 1947. The tour party include n, Colema T. Peter Mr. as such , efforts cleanup i . De Oscar Mr. , the of er the Deputy High Commission Roger Ray of the TIPI District Administrator of the Marshall Islands, Mr. Theodore R. Nevada Operations Office of the AEC (AEC-NV), and Mr. found were badly Mitchell, Executive Director of the MLSC. What they evacuated in 1958 deteriorated test and support facilities, which had been an era. On Medren, almost as if for a fire drill rather than the end of ee ee ce the Bikini. It also stated that the United States planned to commen due to r, howeve 1972; in surveylater that summer.> The survey did begin atoll the , sections uent subseq unforeseen events which are described in - out at type of survey, cleanup, and rehabilitation that had been carried Laboratory (AFWL) at Enewetak Atoll from June 197! to October 1972. The program had two basic objectives: (1) PACE I, to define the geology geophysics, and material properties of the near subsurface (0-100m depth) of the atoll rim; and (2) PACE II, to conduct a series of high explosive cratering experiments, ranging from 1,000 pounds to 500 tons, to establish nuclear explosive/high explosive equivalence for cratering and ground motions.'!9 The PACE operations were preceded by two separate radiological surveys, neither of which indicated any serious hazards, and they were supported by a radiological safety program.!! Measurements during the PACE program indicated no significant radiation hazard, no need to decontaminate equipment, and no requirement for radiological protective clothing or equipment. Nevertheless, bioassay samples were taken as an added precaution, and none showed any indication of plutoniumuptake. !2.!3 AFWL personnel drilled the first test hole in the rim of the Cactus Crater on Runit on 30 September 1971 They continued drilling holes and digging trenches on Runit for the next 8 months before the preliminary AEC radiological survey began in May 1972. During the same period researchers from the Enewetak Marine Biological Laboratory (EMBL), an AEC contractor, were camped on the Cactus Crater rim and conducting biological surveys around Runit using no special protective clothing.