134 RADIOLOGICAL CLEANUP OF ENEWETAK ATOLL With the selectionof the in situ method, the radiological planning issue shifted from the numberof soil samples per unit area to how manyin situ measurements were needed and whatsize the in situ field of view should be. In developing the OPLAN, the issue was resolved by specific ERDA decisions. Measurements would be made at a specific height and on a specific grid spacing. Raw data would be converted to plutonium concentrations using a consistent set of reasonable assumptions, and the resulting numbers would be related to the revised soil cleanup criteria. (See expanded discussions in later chapters.) OPLAN development indicated that the cleanup would require more people, more time, and more money than previously estimated.323 While the CONPLAN estimated 600 military personnel, the OPLAN called for 866. In the CONPLAN, it was estimated that the project would take 28 months from D-Day, while the OPLAN developers estimated 34 months. | Time estimates for camp construction and demobilization in both plans were furnished by 84th Engineer Battalion personnel, however, planning factors had changed considerably since the time the CONPLAN had been developed; i.e., tents and prefabricated buildings were eliminated in favor of more permanent facilities. Some of the additional time was required to construct additional billeting and recreation facilities required to support a population of 443 at Lojwa Camp, 122 more than estimated in the CONPLAN.324 Additional construction time also was required because the many prefabricated units anticipated in the CONPLAN were not available. All but a few facilities would have to be constructed using standard building materials.325.326 Too, some activities which were previously considered as part of the cleanup were redefined as demobilization functions. There was an anticipated 3-month delay in availability of ERDA radiological support (15 September [977 rather than IS June 1977). In order to accommodate this delay and the delay in availability of the Lojwa Camp, the planners rescheduled mobilization and cleanup activities. Northern islands debris survey and removal were rescheduled to begin prior to, instead of concurrent with, contaminated soi! operations and southern islands cleanup. 327 Three alternatives for determining D-Day were considered: a. D-Day of [5 June 1977, with mobilization actions as scheduled in the JCS-approved CONPLAN. 7 b. D-Day of 15 June 1977, with modifications to the ONPLAN schedule of mobilization actions to accommodate the delay in ERDA radiological support and Lojwa Camp availability. c. Deferral of D-Day to accommodate the delay in ERDA radiological support and Lojwa Camp availability while maintaining the CONPLAN schedule for mobilization actions. Planning and Programming 135 The critical factor in the selection of D-Day was the time required for mobilization of manpower and material. For a major project, a minimum of 180 days normally is required from the time personnel and supplies are requisitioned until they arrive at the work site. The Logistics and Manpower Working Groups insisted that even with Force Activity Designator (FAD) Il, a relatively high military priority, and expedited action at all levels, an absolute minimum of 90 days was required. Even so, to meet a IS June 1977 D-Day, the absolute latest date the mobilization effort could begin was 15 March 1977. The first alternative, which required that base Camps using tents be erected in 60 days, was clearly impractical for the more permanent type camp being proposed for Lojwa. The third alternative was strongly favored by ERDA and Army planners. Navy and Air Force planners were prepared to support either the second or third alternative although they, too, preferred the latter. The Manpower and Logistics Working Groups also preferred the third alternative, but believed that they could.support the second if certain conditions were met: (I) the project must be designated as FAD II, and (2) mobilization must begin by 1S March 1977. Manpower and material for base camp construction must be requisitioned a minimum of 90 days before construction forces were due to arrive on D-Day. Since actual cleanup operations would not begin until after the mobilization phase was completed at D+5 months, manpower and equipment for cleanup could be ordered later; however, the manpower and material required for camp construction would have to be identified and requisitioned as soon as possible. This meant that mobilization could not be delayed until the OPLAN had been finalized and approved, but must begin immediately (March) if D-Day were to be 15 June 1977. Based upon these considerations, BG Lacy selected the second alternative and approved starting mobilization on 15 March 1977. The deciding factor in’ establishing IS June 1977 as D-Day was general agreement that the momentum established at the conference should be maintained. Other factors were avoidanceof cost escalations and the need to demonstrate to the dri-Enewetak, and to the world, that the United States was about to fulfill its promises.328,329 To accommodate both the lengthened schedules and the [5 June 1977 DDay, the operations schedule of the CONPLAN (Figure 2-7) had to be revised in the OPLAN. The determining factor in the CONPLAN schedule Was COM aaa nhtilse mlirmena rere mey require approximately 2 years. Since the actual extent of soil contamination, especially subsurface contamination, was unknown, the planners could only make a rough estimateofits magnitude. The OPLAN acknowledged this in several places: