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Runit (Yvonne) Cleanup and Crater Containment
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As soil-cement operations began, an area approximately 100 feet in
diameter was left open in the center of the mound. This area was
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commonly called the “Donut Hole” (Figure 8-35).
As contaminated debris was delivered to Runit, it was placed in the
Donut Hole and choked in place with a four-bag (per cubic yard) mix of
clean slurry. The Donut Hole remained open until mid-July 1979, when
contaminated soil from Runit was used to complete the soil-cement
operation so that the capping could be completed.
HOT PARTICLE DISPOSAL
There was considerable discussion regarding disposal of the more than
400 plastic bags of soil filled by the FRST and others in excising the
plutonium-contaminated fragments on Runit. Mr. Roger Ray, the ERSP
Manager,believed it would be better to treat these bags separately and not
place them in the crater. The Director, DNA, and Commander, Field
Command were willing to have the ERSP take responsibility for the bags
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and for their safeguarding, storage, transport, and disposal but, if this
responsibility remained with DNA, they favored crater disposal.94 The
ERSP Manager responded that these particles might have transuranic
concentrations in the range of one thousand to one million times the