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RADIOLOGICAL CLEANUP OF ENEWETAK ATOLL
slipped due to equipment breakdowns and diversions of resources to
increased soil removal efforts on the northern islands. However, work did
progress smoothly and, in May 1979, the PACE area wasrestored to the
satisfaction of the people, with natural drainage toward the lagoon.49 4
total of 141,000 cubic yards of soil had been relocated. Figures 7-45 and 746 show the PACE test site before and after the restoration operation.
During the restoration operation, a numberof problems surfaced. The
most urgent one was locating enough soil to fill the PACE test area.50
Whenthe soil had been removedoriginally, it had been stockpiled north
and east of the test site. The northern stockpile was subject to tidal and
wave action, and muchofit was washed away. In addition, someofthesoij
had been usedto fill the salt pond and wasto beleft there. Consequently,
there was a shortageofsoil to fill the test bed. This problem was resolved
by using soil from a ridge which extended from the PACE crater toward
the Kickapoo GZlocation on the ocean side of Aomon andsoil washed up
along the beach to the west ofthecrater.
The second problem concernedtheradiological condition ofthefill soil,
It was found through a DOE-ERSPinvestigation that the PACE testsite
was uncontaminated. It was necessarytofill the craters with soil having a
radiological characterization equal to or less than the criteria for the
proposedisland usage—residential (40 pCi/g). Upon furtherDQE-ERSP
investigation, the soil (original stockpiles and proposed borrow sites) was
found to be suitable for the purpose.
Thethird problem concerned the northern portion of the test area. This
area had to be restored early in the project to provide a haul road from the
Kickapoo GZlocation to the lagoon beach where LCM-8 and LCU craft
were loaded for transport of contaminated soil to Runit. The PACE site
restoration in this section was given a high priority and was rapidly
completed, allowing the contaminated soil cleanup work to proceed on
schedule.
FIELD COMMAND’S DRAFT DOSE ESTIMATE STUDY
While soil cleanup was progressing, Dr. Bramlitt was developing the
study requested by the Director, DNA during the 4 May 1978 conference
to determine dose from all radionuclides (both transuranics and fission
products) as they mightaffect the EIS Case 3 lifestyle. The draft sudy was
completed on 6 July 1978. It indicated that the Case 3 lifestyle might lead
to dose rates in excess of guidelines which had been prescribed by the
Atomic Energy Commission (AEC); however, the reason hadlittle to do
with transuranic elements. Dose from transuranic elements was found to
be well within guidelines proposed by the EnvironmentProtection Agency
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