this island.
If this is indicative of what low level activated surface
scrap metal reads, then it is realistic to expect to find buried scrap
metal of significantly higher activity.
Alpha contamination was found on the ocean side of Runit (a review of
several earlier reports on decontamination attempts on Runit suggests
alpha contamination to be buried on the lagoon side) near the site of the
FIG Event.
Contamination appears to be confined to a vein of darkened
sand which in some places along the beach is exposed to the wear and tear
of the elements.
The maximum reading observed on this contaminated wet
sand was 3000 cpm measured with a PAC-15.
Alpha activity was also observed
on bunch grass located approximately 300 Fares north of the FIG site.
The
boundaries of the contaminated area were not delineated because of the
“lack of time.
Also, predictions of the levels of contamination one can
expect buried near the FIG site cannot be made based on results of this
survey.
The highest measured exposure rate levels on the atoll were also found on
Runit, at the lip of the CACTUS crater,
was measured at that location.
A maximum exposure rate of 1 mR/hour
Runit has been used by both Kentron and
Coast Guard personnel stationed on Eniwetok as a recreation island.
The radiological conditions of the other islands are significantly better
than that on Runit.
The only problem area appears to be surface - and
thus the possibility of subsurface-activated scrap metal, especially on
Engibe and Aranit.
On Engibe, a portion of the northwest tip of the island
near the large concrete bunker has been contaminated with beryllium from
past rocket tests.
Recommendations
The following are our recommendations based on the radiation survey.
These
recommendations may be modified somewhat when the sample results are completed,
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