66 RADIOLOGICAL CLEANUP OF ENEWETAK ATOLL Planning and Programming QUARANTINE OF RUNIT: MAY 1972 kind; clearing of vegetation; and construction of roads in connection with PACE. From October 1972 until a court hearing in June 1973, AFWL prepared a draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), held public hearings at Ujelang Atoll in an attempt to obtain dri-En ewetak support During the May 1972 AEC survey, several bits of metal with centimeter- two low-order detonations there. The presence on Runit of discrete pieces of metal contaminated with plutonium presented a new and serious concern.!4 The senior AEC representative, Mr. Roger Ray, recommended woeee low-order Fig shot and similar to residue found on Johnston Atoll after eae range dimensions were found on Runit. Three fragments were hand- carried to the University of Washington for analysis, where they were identified as plutonium-contaminated beryllium. They appeared to be residue from the nonnuclear detonation of the Quince shot or the very- asked the AEC Nevada Operations Office (AEC-NV) for additional data on the nature of the hazard which might then allow completion of PACE.!7 On 30 June 1972, DNA and AECrepresentatives met and agreed that an additional survey should be made to determine if PACE might safely resume on Runit. That survey was carried out from 26 July to 2 August 1972 by AEC and DOD personnel. Safe zones wereidentified in and around the Fig/Quince area. The quarantine waslifted to permit work in those zones, and PACE operations on Runit continued until September 1972 when the program wasagain halted, this time by a restraining order issued by the U.S. District Court in Honolulu at the request of Mr. Mitchell, the dri-Enewetak’s legal counsel. The principal bases of the complaint were that the PACE Project had been started before DOD had filed a final environmental impact statement; that DOD had refused to hold hearings on Ujelang Atoll; and that the decision to conduct PACE on Enewetak was a violation of both the National Environmental Policy Act Cer es 4 \DVaA Tas Ot 19 On 5 October 1972, the District Court ruled that the plaintiffs were entitled to an injunction because of the violation of NEPA and, therefore, PACE activities, including core drilling and seismic surveys at Enewetak, were prohibited. The injunction included a prohibition on excavation of land, reef, or beach areas; core drilling; detonation of explosives of any went ee ee ee arn not remove any vehicles, equipment, or materials until adequate decontamination procedures could be established. The AEC’s recommendation was intended primarily to prevent further aggravation, through dispersion, of an already difficult contamination problem and did not imply that activities to date had caused any significant personnel Considering previous results, the quarantine seemed somewhat severe to DNA. Since the quarantine stopped PACE operations on Runit,. DNA and reorganized the PACE test plan. The court hearing resulted in cancellation of the cratering experiments: however, the geological portions of PACE were permitted to continue as the Explor atory Program on Eniwetok (EXPOE)whichis described ina subsequent section. 20 Before the restraining order and injunction halted PACE activities on the atoll, a 19-acre area covering approximately one-fif th of Aomon had been excavated to form a large depression for use as a bed for a 1000- pound high explosive parametric test shot. The court ordere dthat the area be restoredto its original profile. DNA obtained Mr. Mitchell's approval of immediate quarantine of Runit; i.e., to cease all operations thereon and to exposures.!5 In response to the AEC’s recommendation, the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Test Center (SAMTEC), which then managed the atoll, put the quarantine into effect on 22 May 1972.16 67 a modified stipulation to accomplish the restoration in conjunction with the forthcoming radiological cleanup project or, if the project were cancelled, as a separate action.2! When the cleanu p project was approved and funded, restoration of the PACE test bed was included in the cleanup project operation plan. During preparations for PACE, large quantities of high explosives were stockpiled on Medren. These became excess when PACE was cancelled and they were transferred to the TTPI for use in channe l clearance in the Marshall Istands District. Unfortunately, the ship charte red bv the TTP] to remove the explosives was overloaded, foundered, and sank a few hundred miles from Enewetak Atoll: however, the crew was rescued. ASSIGNMENT OF RESPONSIBILITIES: JULY-NOV EMBER 1972 On 17 July 1972, the Assistant Secretary of Defens e for International Security Affairs, ASD(ISA), advised DNA that DOD planned to conduct the cleanup of Enewetak Atoll with the technical support of AEC. He requested that DNA initiate planning actions with AEC to identify the scope of work and the resources necessary for this mission.22 During the next month, DNA presented a series of introductory briefings on the project for officials of the Office of the Secretary of Defense and Joint Chiefs of Staff GCS) and met with AEC representatives to develop a preliminary planningstrategy.2 The Director, DNA, Lieute nant General aa NOX EWI LY OT eruUiniiy i personal survey of the situation.24 The following week, on 7 September 1972, there was a major conference in Washington, D.C., attended by representatives from over a dozen departments and agencies. The primary