These assumptions have certain limitations, which, for the purposes of @ precleanup survey, are not unacceptable. Assuming surface uniformity over an entire island or major fraction thereof means we can look only at large mreas or whole islanis, or even just groups of islands in any kind of "detail". We cannot subdivide further without changing methods (objective sampling) and increasing the number of samples to unmanageable quantities. The application or the uniformity concept depends on the variability of concentrations within the surface soil data, the range, mean, and number of samples -- all to be accurately determined as results of the soils effort. The random sampling process was chosen as the primary method of soil sample location selection with the assumptions atated above, (Random sampling would produce a better overall coverage of the Atoll than an objective technique and would achieve this with a minimum number of samples. This technique would also remove bias inherent in choosing an objective sampling method which could lean toward collecting samples from the easiest places or in patterns which would eliminate large portions of the islands because they were not "in line", The random technique selects, equally, samples from clearings, under bushes, in groves of trees, etc., producing a comprehensive sampling of the contaminated surface. Objective techniques have merit and’ were applied when appropriate (hot spots, anomalies, etc.). Using an objective technique over the entire Atoll would, however, require astronomically large quantities of samples to produce the same overall precleanup data that the random sampling program would produce with a minimum of samples.