274

RADIOLOGICAL CLEANUP OF ENEWETAK ATOLL

Changing their position from the 13 September 1977 meeting, DOE now

said that it had always been the intent of the AEC Task Group to place
equal priority on cleaning those concentrations between 40 and 400 pCi/g

and those over 400 pCi/g.44 In rebuttal, Field Command cited the AEC
Task Group Report as follows:45
a. Under 400 pCi/g of soil - corrective action not required.
b. 40 to 400 pCi/g of soil - corrective action determined on a case-by.
case basis considering all radiological conditions.

c. Over 400 pCi/g of soil - corrective action required.

°

COL Treat reiterated that resources were constrained, which limited the

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total amount of work that could be done. This required that priority be
given to the actions specified in planning documents and that
consideration be given to reducing the scope of work on Runit. Runit
contamination data available from earlier surveys were reviewed and
found inadequate for accurate definition of the soil cleanup work. It was
concluded that additional soil profile and in situ survey data were required
to define the location and volume of soil to be removéd.
The remainder of that day and the next were devoted to extensive
discussions of procedures for survey and characterization of Runit soil
contamination. The costs in time and other resources required for the
characterization were discussed; and, while it was generally agreed that
they could not be accurately estimated, it was felt that they would not be

excessive. It was believed that these efforts would contribute to the

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eventual cleanup and/or certification of Runit, therefore, the additional
resources required for characterization would be minimal.46

It was agreed that Runit characterization should receive the same

priority as soil cleanup of Lujor and Boken. It was hoped that available
assets would permit simultaneous work on cleanup and characterization.
Two options for reducing the volume ofsoil cleanup and disposal were
discussed: plowing, and use of low-level soil from other islandsfor fill on
Runit. It was generally agreed that plowing should not be used to meet
cleanupcriteria but that it might be used to reduce concentrationsafter
other cleanup actions were complete. It was generally agreed that low-level
soil should not be spread on Runit, but that it could be left in a stockpile or

used to backfill evactuations.4?
The conference ended on 5 October 1977. However, due to differences

in Opinion on what was said and whatit accomplished, almost 2 months
were required to complete the conference report. Meanwhile, on 14

October 1977, COL Treat was formally designated as Special Assistant for
Enewetak Operations, reporting directly to the Commander,

Field

Command, and having a small staff detailed from other directorates. The
Special Assistant was to formulate policy and guidance for the conduct and
support of the cleanup project and coordinate interagency actions.48 The
be

Select target paragraph3