|
Soul CleanP
Planning
not apparent in the A
NA responded thal these intentions were
suranics other tl
U Group Report, which (1) did not mention tranbi
soil removal, :
Enje
nst
agai
ed
(2) specifically recommend
Task ‘om
inated soil on Rt
Mo ifically recommended that plutonium-contam
on which ERDA |
) Peved 22 DNA reminded ERDA that the EIS,
A had helped devel
. inated and the OPLAN, which ERD
ns on Aom:
eelically identified excision of plutonium concentratio
mention
or Boken, and Runit as required cleanup tasks.43 The only
ful.
harm
be
d
woul
it
that
Enjebi soil cleanup in those documents was
exist
that the
“it became apparent at the 13 September 1977 meeting
AEC-ERI
policy, plans, and schedules for soil cleanup were based on
duta and guidelines which were no longer reliable. It was obvious tl
ERDA was revising its guidelines for plutonium cleanup to bet
correspond to EPA’s proposed guidelines for all transura
d ne
contamination, despite EPA’s assurances that its guidelines woul
apply to Enewetak. This not only cast doubt on the original Ai
ume estimates ar
guidelines but rendered invalid the existing soil vol
consequently, the existing soil cleanup plans, priorities, and schedu
which were based on those guidelines. Asa result of the 13 September 19
meeting, the Director, DNA decided to suspendsoil cleanup preparatic
until firm guidelines and estimates of all transuranic soil contaminati
could be developed.
in
On | October 1977, ERDA was reorganized. Those components involv
the
Enewetak
project
were
assigned
to
the
newly establist
change except in name and off
Department of Energy (DOE)with little
-NV.
symbol; e.g., ERDA-NV became DOE
RUNIT CHARACTERIZATION
On 4 October 1977, experts from DOE-NV, the Armed For
Radiobiology Research Institute (AFRRI), Field Command, and seve
DOE contractors met at Las Vegas, Nevada, to examine meansof meet
requirements for a more definitive, quantitative characterization of
scope of work involved in the radiological cleanup of Runit Island. 1
conference was chaired by Field Command’s COL Treat who brie
reviewed the cleanup background, requirements, and the specific probl
of assuring that the plutonium concentrations on Runit could be remo:
within the resources available and with consideration for the impact
Runit cleanup on the cleanup of other islands. ERDA headquart
representatives questioned DNA’s interpretation of the AEC Task Gre
Report as requiring priority be given to concentrations over 400 pC