Rink A Fayre 2rVISED
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sek® a 5/17/73
Introduction
Eniwetok Atoll is significant in the nuclear world because it was
one of the sites of our atmospheric nuclear testing program during the
late 1940's and 1950's.
As the Eniwetok Proving Grounds (EPG) and the
headquarters of the Pacific Proving Grounds (PPG), the Atoll experienced
the effects of some 40 nuclear detonations, including the world's first
thermonuclear explosion.
The United States' testing program in the Pacific was extensive,
involving thousands of personnel.
Large complexes were constructed to
house these personnel, their experiments and equipment.
structures were emplaced throughout the Atoll:
Numerous test
bunkers, photo and
device towers, test stands, experiment holders, etc.
During the years of testing, many of these structures were expended
in pursuit of the program.
As structures were destroyed or rendered use-=
less by a test, they were abandoned, pushed aside or buried.
New
structures took their place.
From hindsight we observe that radioactive contamination, resulting
from the test detonations and related experiments, was distributed pri-
marily as fallout over much of the Atoll.
Islands on which surface
ground zeros (SGZ) were sited, and those which experienced close-in,
intense fallout, received a substantial insult to their environment from
each test.
Depending on subsequent needs of the program, construction
activities--building new or replacing expended test structures--moving
earth, "decontaminating" areas--redistributed the radioactivity from
the surface of the ground to various depths on several islands or onto
the surrounding reef or into the nearby lagoon waters.