——eP 176 RADIOLOGICAL CLEANUP OF ENEWETAK ATOL semiannual sampling and reporting of radiation in fish and wildlife, ang Field Commandobjected to this condition on numerousgrounds. 99 In formulating the crater containment permit, a standard provision was included by the Corps of Engineers which would have required DNA to maintain the structure in good condition indefinitely. (The genera, rationale for this position was: Cactus Crater presently exists on the northern end of Runit Island; Cactus Crater extends below the water table, thus it is filled with water, since Cactus Crateris filled with water, even thoughit is located partially on the reef, the probability exists for migration ofits water to and from the lagoon duetotidalaction, thereby making it subject to the laws governing the introduction of materials into navigable waterways, a plan to fill Cactus Crater with a concrete slurry mixture equates to building a structure on a navigable waterway; the standardprovision requires that anyonebuilding a structure on a navigable waterway must commit themselves in writing to perpetual maintenance of the structure.) DNA objected to this provision as being inappropriate and pointed out that it was directly contrary to all U.S. commitments, directly contrary to the national-level decisions madeafter 3 years of debate, and in violation of Congressional guidance. Agreement was reached eventually that DNA would maintain the structure until the project was complete, and thereafter would assure that periodic monitoring of the site was accomplished by some Federal agency until the United States terminated its trusteeship responsibilities. !90 Resolution ofall these issues took an inordinate amountoftime, andit began to appearthat either the permits would have to be ignored or the absence of permits was going to halt work on the project. The channel clearance permit was finally issued on 31 August 1977, 2 weeks before blasting began.!9! The lagoon disposal permit was issued on 3 November 1977.102 The crater containment permit was not issued until 9 November 1977, the week before the Mobilization Phase officially ended and the CleanupPhase began. !93 OPERATION SWITCH I: NOVEMBER 1977 Most military personnel were replaced after serving 4-6 months TDY at Enewetak. Replacement of the personnel who arrived in May and June 1977 began in October 1977, and the turnover in Novemberwas near-total. Over 400 personnel were replaced in that month in an exchange termed Operation Switch.It required extensive planning and close coordination by the JTG, the Service Elements, and Field Command’s Pacific Support Office, which scheduled the airlift and coordinated Operation Switch actions in Honolulu.