Commissioners
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C
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JUN 1 1972
Pacific Cratering Experiment (PACE) personnel on the preliminary
findings of the AEC survey teem.
DNA/PACE decided to continue their
work on Runit in preparation for their high explosive excavation
experiments while the Seripps Institute personnel decided to leave
the Atoll.
The AEC survey team advised the DNA/PACE personnel that
they did not consider PACE radiological precautions as adequate.
On returning to Kwajalein on May 20, Mr. Rey sent a meesage to Air
Force suthcrities recommending that Runit Island be quarentined,
This recommendation was based upon the fact that the road between the
dock and the PACE work areas passes directly throuzh the highly con»
tamincted area and that trucks end ether earthnoving equipment were
transiting the contaminated areas and were being taken off Runit
Teland to other islands.
His recommendation indicated the necd for
LL
cessation of all operations and traffic to Runit Islend until adenuate
survey and decontamination procedures could be esteblished to prevent
further aggravation through dispersion of contamination to other
-~
islands and/or shipping facilities.
The analysis of several fragments collected by the AEC survey team is
now underway at LLL and should be available within the mext ween.
Other environmental samples collected by the team will require several
weeks for analysis.
The Microvesian visitors were not informed of this contamination
problen.
DNA has advised AEC that the PACE work on Runit has been discontinued ‘
and the Island is under quarantine. General Carroll H. Dunn, Director,
DNA, has indicated to General Giller that their immediate plans are to
gend a DNA radiological survey team to Runit Island, with appropriate
AEC technical assistance, to conduct a detailed survey of the FACE work
areas.
The results of their survey will be used to determine the
feasibility of conducting the PACE experiment as planned, or with appropriate preceutions or the necessity of selecting another sjte.
Department of Energy
ORIGINAL Sisnen By
Historian’s Office
MARTIN B. BILES ]
ARCHIVES
Martin B. Biles, Director
°
Division of Operational Safety
bec:
General Manager (2)
Maj. Gen. E. B. Giller, USAF, AGMMA
J. H. Rubin, AGMES
Secty (2)
Contact:
if
L.J. Deal, X-4093
MA
MBBiles
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