114

RADIOLOGICAL CLEANUP OF ENEWETAK ATOLL

Planning and Programming

115

CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS: SEPTEMBER 1976
It was planned that the Enewetak Atoll Cleanup Project would be
accomplished by a JTG consisting of a Commander (CJTG) whoreported

TASKonoup

DRILENEWETAK
REPRESENTATIVE

COMMANDER

to Field Command, a Headquarters Element (HQ JTG), elements from

1

1

,

the three Military Services, and ERDA (Figure 2-6).243 Most of the

changes that the Joint Staff made to the final CONPLAN were minor;
however, one led to serious command and control problems during the
project. DNA had recommended that the CJTG be in command of the

DOUTTP

Military Service Elements on the Atoll. At the insistence of the Navy JCS
representative, the CJTG was given “‘supervisory authority”’ rather than

om ONSITE

LtAISON

ERDA
REPRESENTATIVE 1
RAD LABSPT

command over the Military Service Elements of the JTG. ‘‘Supervisory
authority’’ was uniquely defined by the Joint Staff for this one project as ‘‘

20

. .the detailed and local direction and control of movements or maneuvers

necessary to accomplish missions or tasks assigned.’’244 This ambiguous
and limiting phrase caused considerable confusion and resulted in many
management problems and other adverse effects on cleanup operations

(described in later chapters).

ADMINISTRATICN

ENGINEERING

DIVISION

DIVISION

RAD CONTROL

LOGISTICS

DIVISION

DIVISION

D-Day was designated as the day base camp construction and

_|
SECURITY
OIVISION

radiological field surveys would begin. According to the CONPLAN

schedule (Figure 2-7), construction materials and supplies for base camp
construction were scheduled to be ordered at D-3 months. After D-Day, 2

®

months were scheduled for rehabilitation of the base camp at Enewetak

Island and erection of a temporary camp at Lojwa Island (Ursula). Actual
cleanup operations were to begin at D+ 2 monthsandlast approximately 2
years, including cleanup of the base camps and worksites at Runit, Lojwa,
and Enewetak. One month was scheduled for demobilization of personnel

and materiel.245

wees

The schedule was based on simultaneous efforts by a Navy Harbor
Clearance Team to remove debris below the high-tide line and three Army
engineer teams to remove and dispose of other debris and contaminated
soil. Team A would be based at Enewetak Camp and accomplish cleanup of
the noncontaminated southern islands. Team B would be based at Lojwa
Camp and accomplish cleanup of the northern islands, including
noncontaminated hazards and contaminatedsoil and hazards. Team also
would be based at Lojwa Camp and would accomplish the containment of

radioactive debris and soil in the crater on Runit (Figure 2-8).246 Before

SOT ray

preparations, including quarrying and crushing aggregate, constructing a

dike or mole to minimize the effect of tides and seas, and setting up the
batch plant and other facilities. It was anticipated that before these

preparations were finished, Team B would havecompleted soil cleanup on
all islands except Runit, thereby providing a stockpile of about 30,000
cubic yards—sufficient to begin containment operations. 247

a

COMM-ELECT

CHAPLAIN

TEAM

TEAM

a

‘

i

HELICOPTER
1s

HARBOR
CLEARANCE
TEAM 0

FINANCE
TEAM ;

fs
fs
AM

|

ABBREVIATIONSFCONA - Fields Command, Deterse
Nuciear Anoncy
DRI CNEWETAK . Enewetak Peropts
DOL Department af the Interine

TEFL. Trust Territorty Paestic Inland

RAD LAR SPT Radiological
paoratory Support
EROA Energy Research and
Development Adouniarration

LEGEND
en COMMAND
- ee ee ee COORD
INATION

SUPERVISORY AUTHORITY

FIGURE 2-6. ENEWETAK ATOLL PROP
OSED JOINT TASK GROUP.

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