388 > RADIOLOGICAL CLEANUP OF ENEWETAK ATOLL and resettlement effort—and thus upon the overall Enewetak operation Accordingly, the Director, DNA involved DOD actively in all aspects of the issue. DNA did not concur with the DOE recommendation and favoreg planting as planned, based on several arguments. First, DNA believedthe actual facts of radionuclide levels in soil, radionuclide uptake in coconuts, usage patterns for coconuts, assimilation of radioactive isotopes in the body, and health effects of this assimilation were all so imperfectly understood that the real degree of risk was quite unclear. Second,there was no immediate risk in planting, as coconut tree maturation time was about 8 years, during which period there would be ample time to reevaluate the risks, if any, adequately. Third, planting could be done now at virtually no increased costs (since it had been planned from the Start, and all necessary material and manpower had already been procured), while planting later would cost many millionsofdollars (if approvalof such a project could ever be gained). Finally, even if—8 years in the future— consumption of coconuts appeared unwise, the coconuttree stands would still be valuable in stabilizing the soil and providing humus for the northern islands. DNA recognized, however, that the issue was one for DOI, not DOD, to decide. FISSION PRODUCTS DATA BASE SURVEY DECISION In addition to posing a possible conflict on coconut tree planting, strontium and cesium posed another, more serious problem. The AEC Task Group Report and EIS had considered soil contamination by these fission products to be the principal constraint on the resettlement of the northern islands. On the other hand, the transuranic concentrations were generally low and did not contribute significantly to dose. The transuranic concentrations could be removed by excising a moderate amountofsoil on or near the surface. Unlike the transuranics, strontium and cesium were water soluble and had soaked deepinto the soil and the lens waterof the northern islands. It had been estimated that ten times as much soil (779,000 cubic yards) would have to be excised to remove the hazardous fission products as would be required to remove the transuranics hot spots. It had been estimated that over 239,000 cubic yards of soil would have had to be removed from Enjebi alone to reduce strontium and cesium to residential levels. AEC and DNA had agreed that the cost and potential adverse environmental impacts were prohibitive. The only clearly practical course was to excise the transuranic concentrationsandlet natural decay reducethefission products to acceptable levels. Use of the northern islands for residence or subsistence agriculture would be