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152
RADIOLOGICAL CLEANUP OF ENEWETAK ATOLL
Master Sergeant J. S. Loggins, Engineer Construction NCQ.
Accompanying them was Captain Charles E. Day, USA, from the Fielg
Command Hawaii Office, assigned on a 2-week temporary duty (TDY)
basis to provide radiological safety support for thefirst joint effort of the
project.34
FIRST ARMY-NAVY TEAM: 5 APRIL-17 MAY 1977
Thefirst joint Army-Navyeffort of the project was removalof aggregate
from a stockpile on Enjebi (Janet) Island to Lojwa (Ursula) Island for use
in construction of the forward base camp. It was accomplished by four
Army equipmentoperators and five Navy boat operators assigned TDYto
the atoll for the aggregate operation. Procedures for accomplishing and
supporting the operation were developed by the atoll commander, the
H&Nsite manager, and Field Command’schieflogistician.35.36 The team
used base support equipment—scooploaders, dump trucks, and landing
craft, mechanized (LCM-8)—to move the aggregate. The bulk-haul
system, which had previously been used to deliver soil for ERDA’s
experimental tree farm on Enjebi, was used to transport the aggregate to
Lojwa. With the bulk-haul system, the landing craft well deck was loaded
directly with approximately 40 cubic yards of aggregate for each trip,
instead of with one truck carrying only about 8 cubic yards of aggregate,
This was the first use of bulk haul by a military team at the atoll. A year
later, after extensive radiological safety testing, the procedure would be
employed to improve capabilities for moving radiologically contaminated
soil.
Work began on 8 April 1977 under the supervision of Chief Boatswain’s
Mate Roger Black. During the week, the team camped on Enjebiin trailer
facilities originally established for the Lawrence Livermore Laboratory’s
experimental tree farm. The Enjebi trailer camp was operated and
maintained by two H&N-PTD employees. On weekends, the team
returned to the main base camp on Enewetak Island. CPT Day
implementedthe radiological safety program. Air samplers obtained from
the Nevada Test Site were set up downwind of aggregate loading and
offloading operations, and dustfilter masks were worn by personnelin the
area. When the operation was completed on 9 May 1977, a total of 1,300
cubic yards of aggregate was stockpiled on Lojwa for use by the
construction forces.37