82
RADIOLOGICAL CLEANUP OF ENEWETAK ATOLL
normally cannotdirectly let construction contracts financed by MILCoy
funds but must go through the military construction agencies; e.g. the
Naval Facilities Engineering Command or the Army Corps of Engineer,
‘
Therefore, DNA plannedto have the Pacific Ocean Division (POD)ofthe
Corps of Engineers accomplish the actual contracting, including design,
preparation, award of the contract, and monitoring of the contractor’.
performance. As the using agency, or client, for whom the work would be
done, DNA was to furnish basic concepts for accomplishing ang
supporting the cleanup project. Responsibility for developing these
concepts was assigned to DMA’s operational element, Field Command,
DNA.
Field Command, DNA, a joint service organization located in
Albuquerque, New Mexico, was commanded in 1974 by Rear Admiral L.
V. Swanson, USN. In addition to being responsible for developing cleanup
concepts, Field Command was tasked to assume the responsibility for
operation and maintenance of the base camp at Enewetak Atoll, effective
1 January 1974, Field Command’s Logistics Directorate, under Colone|
Alan C. Esser, USA, was assigned primary staff responsibility for both
efforts. On 23-25 January 1974, representatives from DNA’s Headquarters
and Field Command traveled to Enewetak Atoll to inspect base camp
operations and maintenance andto confer with POD officials on cleanup
project concepts. Major General John McEnery, USA, Deputy Director
for Operations and Administration, DNA, headed the conference, which
included Mr. Earl Eagles, of DNA; COL Esser, Lieutenant Colonel
Donald B. Hente, USAF, and Mr. David Wilson, of Field Command;
CommanderFritz Wolff, of AEC Headquarters; Mr Roger Ray, of AECNV; Mr. Harry Brown, of DOI; Colonel John Hughes, USA, of POD; and
Mr. Earl Gilmore, of H&N. While radiological planning awaited several
key decisions, the conference established several basic concepts for base
camprehabilitation and noncontaminated cleanupincluding:87
.
a. A Joint Task Group (JTG) would be formed to coordinate and
control the cleanup operation.
b. A temporary base camp would beestablished in the northernislands
to support cleanup in that area and reduce transportation time and
requirements.
c. Costs would be reduced by using existing military equipment.
d. There would be only one contractor at Enewetak who would operate
the base camp as well as accomplish the actual cleanup described in
the Engineering Study.
mm oO
. POD would serve as contracting office for the cleanup contract.
DOI would have POD contract for their rehabilitation program,
possibly using the same contractor as DOD used for cleanup.
,