248

RADIOLOGICAL CLEANUP OF ENEWETAK ATOLL

wells, and miscellaneous scrap. Only the base camp islands exceeded
Enjebi in the amount of noncontaminated debris. There were an estimated
19,884 cubic yards of noncontaminated and 568 cubic yards of

contaminated debris to be removed. There were 166 Master Index items.

plus the largest amount of unexploded World War II munitions to be

found on any island on the atoll. 73

The debris survey began in July 1977 and continued, with occasiona|
interruptions, well into the next year. Based on the Master Index, 3,309
cubic yards of debris were classified for crater and lagoon disposal and
scheduled to be physically removed from Enjebi. Resurvey of the concrete
items in early 1978 identified an additional 7,700 cubic yards to be
removed from the island, including concrete pads, bunkers, and anchor

blocks comprising 3,200 cubic yards of material and the multistory
building at Greenhouse Station 3.1.1, nicknamed the ‘‘Enjebi Hilton.’ The

Structure was coded in the Master Index for on-island disposal; however,

the resurvey found beta contamination on the roof. This contamination
and the immense volume of other material contained in the building made
on-island disposal impractical. The resurvey identified over 75 percent of
the structure, some 4,500 cubic yards, for lagoon disposal.
These changes required more time and resources for Enjebi debris
cleanup than originally planned. The principal impact was on the Army
Element and the Navy Boat Transportation Team. 74
Debris cleanup began at Enjebi on 26 January 1978. The first major
project was to raze the Enjebi Hilton, a multilevel building 52 feet wide,
196 feet long, and 36 feet high. [t had been constructed in three sections to
test the effects of nuclear blast on various types of materials and
construction techniques commonly used in commercial buildings in the
United States. Though still standing, the building had been severely
damagedin the tests (Figure 5-22). After the FRST discovered that the
roof contained extensive beta contamination, the contaminated portions
were chipped loose and transported to Runit for containment. The roofchipping operation was completed on 4 March 1978 and, on 13 March

1978, USAE began demolishing the remaining structure with a wrecking

ball. The technique was effective but slow. After extensive study and
planning, it was decided to use explosives and demolish one section at a
time. After a test blast on 21 March 1978, the first section was dropped on

29 March 1978 with 2,000 pounds of explosive charges.’5 The remaining

sections were demolished the following week with two similar explosions,
leaving only the concrete base (Figures 5-23 and 5-24). Several months
were required to remove the rubble.

The base of the Enjebi Hilton posed a difficult problem. It was 7 feet
thick with l- and 2-inch diameter steel reinforcing rods. There wassoilcement, as well as a lean mixture of concrete, under all footings. Grouting

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