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RADIOLOGICAL CLEANUP OF ENEWETAK ATOLL
concentration of a relatively large amount of plutonium in the small rocks
caused concern. In early October 1978, personnel from J-2, DOE, and
FRST visited the Kickapoo area to determine the distribution of the
plutonium-contaminated fragments. Instruments sensitive to the gamma
rays of americium-24| were found to be most useful for identifying the
contaminated fragments. [It was soon learned that plutonium was found
only on fragments ofa rusty color. The fragments were found mainly along
the shore, probably washed there as a result of tidal action and storms,
DOE personnel surmised that the fragments probably were condensed
from molten fragments of the tower which originally supported the nuclear
device and had been plated with plutonium. About 50 poundsof fragments
werecollected at this time and designated for disposal in the Cactus Crater,
Since they were easy to identify, there did not appear to be very manyof
them, and they might become controversial in the future, it was decided
that a team of FRST personnel supervised by JTG J-2 would collect ail
they could find. This search collected {00 pounds of the fragments, which
were also placed in the Cactus Crater.65 As a result of storms, some
fragments continued to be found in the Kickapoo area well into the
demobilization phase.6
Noncontaminated debris discovered on the nearby islet knownasSally’s
child (code name Zoe) during the FRSTsurveyin April 1978 was removed
by the survey team.§? Restoration of the PACE test bed andthe cleanup of
the third Aomon Crypt are covered in Chapter7.
BIJIRE (TILDA) ISLAND CLEANUP
Bijire consists of 52 acres and was used for photographic,
instrumentation, and scientific stations during nuclear testing. It did not
serve as a ground zero for any events and, although it accumulated some
fallout from events on neighboring islands, it had no contaminated scrap.
A 1,300-foot-long runway extended down the center of the island.
Vegetation included Scaevola and Messerschmidia shrubs 10 to 15 feettall
with grassy clearings in the interior. Hazardous debris included several
concrete bunkers and slabs, plus miscellaneous wood and metal scrap.
There were an estimated 200 cubic yards of noncontaminated debris and
26 Master Index items. The planned use for Bijire was agriculture.o8 The
debris survey by the FRST, completed on 31 October 1977, confirmed that
there was no contaminated debris on the island.§9 It was decontrolled and
used as an adjunct to the Lojwa Base Camp, primarily as the location for a
burnable refuse dump.
Debris cleanup began on 8 June 1978 using an Army LARC to remove
debris from the island for lagoon disposal.?° Debris removal, completed