Mobilization SOUTH RUNIT MOBILIZATION: JUNE-JULY 1977 Since containment of contaminated soil and debris was accomplished on northern Runit, certain basic facilities were established on the uncontaminated southern endoftheisland to s that operation. Preliminary design concepts for construction of containment supportfacilities at the Runit work site were develo personnel of an Army Engineer Brigade at the Second Enewetak PI Conference. The equipment specifications assumed that new com! equipment would be procured with MILCON funds, d Congressional and DOD direction to make use of existing equipment. Identification and location of suitable substitutes in equipment pools required an exhaustive effort by Field Cor engineers and logisticians and by Headquarters DNA supply per: Much ofthe needed equipment was found in Navy inventories. Nc the substitutes were fully satisfactory when put into operation; ho most of the Runit crater containment operation was performe existing DOD equipment,despite significant maintenance and opet problems, described in Chapter 8. Construction offacilities on south Runit was severely constrain it could be determined if there was a contaminated burial site near t ground zero, and until the south end of the island could be d radiologically clean. Until this was accomplished, troops erecti administrative building were required to wear full-face masks. gloves, and rubber boots. Despite the 90-degree heat and the disc of wearing anticontamination gear, the crew had completely fram roofed the structure before the area was declared safe and the rest: were lifted on 15 July 1977 (Figure 3-16).77:78 Meanw! decontamination building, latrine, and concrete slabs for a boatra: been prefabricated at Enewetak Campforinstallation on south R Much of the aggregate for Runit site construction was hauled fr stockpile at Enjebi. As in the case of Lojwa, Runit constructi significantly slowed by lack of certain critical building materials. MOBILIZATION CONTINUES: JULY-NOVEMBER 1977 Building materials which arrived at the ports of embarkation a: American Racer sailed were delivered by a special COMNAVSUI sealift consisting of the USS POINT DEFIANCE and USS FREDI The ships called at Oakland, California, for that cargo, after landing craft and other Navy cargo at San Diego and demolition ma Seal Beach, California. More equipment and supplies were loaded