333 Soil Cleanup Operations The radiological factors had a major bearing on bulk hauling and werea factor in the 30-day test period. The possibility of an airborne dom inant logical hazard during bulk-haul operation and the ability to radio taminate bulk-haul boats both needed to be assessed by the experts. decquestions were extensively researched and evaluated during the test from HQ JTG, by the FRST,and by the Radiation Safety personnel ae OYit and Inspection Team RSAIT were as follows:? (RSAIT) from HQ DNA. Thefindings of the . _ a. Ait samples consistently indicated that any airborne radioactivity level was less than one-tenth of the maximum permissible concentration (MPC). This levelof activity did not require respiratory protection. b. Crews did not experience difficulty in decontaminating the load area of the craft, although the process did require additional hours to certify decontamination. The bulk-haul evaluation demonstrated conclusively the efficiency and radiological safety of the system. After receiving a detailed written and verbal report from the RSAIT, the Director, DNA approvedthe use ofthe bulk-haul procedure for soil transport. It continued to be improved during subsequent soil removal operations. It was one of the more important innovative techniques developed during the project,? and withoutit the cleanup would have required more time and/or resources. AOMON (SALLY) ISLAND SOIL CLEANUP The Department of Energy-Enewetak Radiological Support Project (DOE-ERSP) fine soil survey of Aomon began on 23 February 1978 in preparation for the pilot soil removal project. Three areas had been found to have transuranic contamination above acceptable levels. These areas, shown in Figure 7-6, were around the Kickapoo and Yumatest ground zeroes (GZ) and in a third location which the JTG designated the ‘‘|fustead’’ area after the then U.S. Army Element (USAE) Operations Officer (S-3). Pilot soil removal work began in the Kickapoo area on 8 March 1978, The pilot soil removal project evolved into a full-scale cleanup of contaminated soil on theisland.Soil profile and in situ surveys following each 6-inch lift indicated swirls of contaminated and noncontaminatedsoil muchlike the swirls of color in a marble cake. This ‘‘marble cake’’ effect resulted from earth-moving actions between and following nucleartests. Severallifts were required to meet theinitial target level of 80 pCi/g. After the three areas were IMPed in June 1978, it became evident that removal of a limited amount of additional soil would allow the island to meet residential levels (40 pCi/g). There was a narrow strip in the a