536
RADIOLOGICAL CLEANUP OF ENEWETAK ATOLL
Alternatives a and d were intended to accomplish as much planting for
the dri-Enewetak as possible during the Rehabilitation Program. Adoption
of either alternative would create no immediate or near-term radiation
hazard because the trees would bear no coconutsuntil about 1985. By tha
time, fission product levels in the soil and nuts might be insignificant.
Also, it was likely that scientific knowledge concerning fission produc
uptake and body burden accumulation through diet will have advanced to
provide new techniques to minimize dose or exposure. Alternatives b ang
c were intended to comply with DOE recommendations and minimizethe
chances of uncontrolled use of possibly contaminated coconuts during
droughts and delays in food ship deliveries at Enewetak.
No coconuts from any of the northern islands were to be used forfood
or drink under anyof the alternatives. Only coconuts from the southern
islands were to be consumed. It appeared that there would be a shortageof
‘‘clean”’? southern island trees under any of the alternatives.©° Three
“‘variations’” were proposed to alleviate the shortage:
a. Plant the southwest islands of Ikuren (Glen), Mut (Henry), Boken
(Irwin), Ribewon (James), and Kidrenen. Plantations had existed on
these islands previous to World WarII, and it was estimated that they
could accommodate 4,608 trees planted on 30-foot centers. This
variation would have eliminated the remaining wild habitat on the
atoll and would have been difficult and costly ($0.5 million) to
implement becauseof restricted boat access to theseislands.®!
b. Improve Ujelang coconut availability by planting 11,900 additional
trees there, improving the Ujelang pier, and improving sealift
capability between Ujelang and Enewetak. This variation would have
cost almost $1.5 million in additional funds.62 In effect, it constituted
a Ujelang Atoll Rehabilitation Program which would have been
difficult to justify if all the dri-Enewetak were returning to Enewetak,
as planned.
c. Remove 3,600 feet of the Enewetak runway (leaving 4,500 feet to
accommodate aircraft up to the size of a Boeing 727) and plant an
additional 720 trees. This variation would have been difficult to
schedule and implement since the full runway was required by the C-
141 cargo aircraft which supported the rehabilitation program. Its
potential cost/benefit ratio was very unfavorable. 63
The study concluded that optimum subsistence coconut productions on
the four southern islands could be achieved by planting 20,880 standard
trees on 30-foot centers rather than on 26-foot centers as proposed in the
Master Plan.§4 (The planting of 930 dwarf coconut trees prescribed by the
Master Plan and the plantation contract was somehow overlooked in the
study.) A total of 21,810 trees would supply 8 coconuts per day for
approximately 600 people. Any additional requirements for subsistence
coconuts would haveto besatisfied by adopting one ofthe variations.
|