in separate letters to Paul Dunaway (NAEG) by R. 0. Gilbert and E. B.

Fowler in December of 1975, and there were undoubtedly other NAEG scientists considering various aspects of possible future cleanup activities.
Future Studies

During 1977, we prepared a protocol to take additional FIDLER, soil, and
vegetation samples at the Clean Slate 2 site on TTR in anticipation of a
possible remedial action or cleanup effort at that site.
Aerial surveys
by EG&G, Las Vegas, in February, 1977, indicated some additional sampling
to refine estimates of Am surface contamination at this site.
The field
sampling design completed in October, 1977, is given in Figure 7.
This
design is an outgrowth of a preliminary plan sent to the NAEG in April,

1977.

The sampling objectives are (i) to refine estimates of spatial

patterns and inventory of Pu and Am, (ii) to evaluate whether a cattle
grazing study might be conducted, and (iii) to collect information
suitable to better define the area that might require remedial or cleanup
action according to recently proposed EPA guidelines.*
Soil samples to
1-, 2.5-, and 5-cm depths would be collected using 5-inch-~diameter rings
in the configuration shown in Figure 8.
Surface FIDLER readings would
be taken over each sampling ring and at 1-foot height over the cluster
of three.
The l-cm samples would be sieved to 2-mm size and both frac-—
tions analyzed.
The l-cm samples on 2-mm size fractions are included
since the proposed EPA guidelines call for this type of sample.
At 23
grid locations, both 10- and 50-gram aliquots of soil would be analyzed
for Pu (wet chemistry) and Am (Ge(Li) or wet chemistry).
The 50-gram
aliquots are included to help evaluate the variability of these larger
aliquots relative to the standard 10-g NAEG aliquot size used up to the
present time.
This is motivated by results of the special aliquot size
study discussed by Doctor and Gilbert (1978) that indicates substantial
reduction in variability between aliquots from the same sample if 50-gram
rather than 1- or 10-gram aliquots are used.
There are a number of other sampling questions that need to be studied
in anticipation of possible cleanup efforts.
There is a need, e.g., to
determine under what conditions and levels of contamination FIDLER field

data could be used in such studies.

A great many FIDLER readings taken

at a height of 1 foot were obtained at safety-shot sites (Gilbert and
Eberhardt, 1974, and Gilbert et al., 1975) that could be examined in
greater detail.
Information on FIDLER readings taken at the soil surface

as well as at 1-foot height were taken as part of the "variability with
distance” study conducted in Area 13 (see Doctor and Gilbert, 1978).

More information of this type will be generated in the Clean Slate 2

*Proposed Guidance on Dose Limits for Persons Exposed to Transuranium

Elements in the General Environment,'’ FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE, November

1977,
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Radiation Programs, Washington, D.C. 20460.

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