FIGURE 7-34, AOMON CRYPT INITIAL EXCAVATIONS. found and the soil was found to be below 40 pCi/g. Consequently, thesoil was replaced. The western area excavation began on 16 January 1979. Approximately 1,700 cubic yards of soil and 170 cubic yards of debris were removed. The debris was found to be contaminated with plutonium and coated with an asphaltic compound. As it was being removed, the asphaltic compound flaked off causing the soil to become contaminated with plutonium. All 170 cubic yards of debris were transported to Runit. About 786 cubic yards of the contaminated soil were moved to Runit. The remaining soil was used to refill the excavation. This refilled area provided the footing for the 45-ton crane while the sheet pile enclosure was being constructed around the central area. Once the enclosure was in place, debris was removedfirst; then contaminated soil was excavated. Whenall the debris and soil were removed from the sheet pile enclosed area, the bottom soil was sampled by DOE-ERSP. Fourteen 5-by-5-meter grids were found to contain soil contamination in excess of 400 pCi/g; additional excavation in these areas was required. As soil was excavated, iterative bottom sampling was conducted until all bottom soil was below the 400 pCi/g criteria. The operation was completed on 30 April 1979 after a total of 335 cubic yards of debris and 7,800 cubic yards of contaminated soil had been removedandtransported to Runit. Excavations to a depth of 24 feet were necessary in the enclosed area. Once excavation within the We