482

RADIOLOGICAL CLEANUP OF ENEWETAK ATOLL
JUNE 1979 JOINT SURVEY

On 19-22 June 1979, 9 months before the project was due to end,
representatives of various agencies conducted thefirst joint survey of
equipment and supplies which would become available for redistribution

as they became excess to Enewetak Cleanup Project requirements.

Agencies represented included HQDNA, DARCOM, DPDR-PAC, the

Department of Agriculture (USDA), WESTCOM, COMNAVSURFPAC.

Kwajalein Missile Range, TTPI, the Government of the Marshall Islands

(GMI), Field Command, and the JTG. The survey was conducted in
conjunction with an inspection by depot technicians of 80 Army items
scheduled for retrograde in September 1979. Based on their deteriorateq
condition, 60 items, including dump trucks, tractors, and construction
equipment, were identified for local disposal. Other items surveyeg
included excess and salvage material from the Enewetak Consolidateq
Supply Account; recreational club equipment at Lojwa Camp; ang
commercial laundry and food service equipment which would become
excess as the base camps were inactivated. Requirements for these items
were submitted to the JTG J-4 by the participating agencies. It was
discovered later that the nomenclatures on the requests weredifficult to

identify with specific items being offered. This problem was solved on

subsequent surveys by using JTG-preparedlistings to request excess. !6
Representatives of the GMI identified a considerable amount of excess
construction material which was urgently required at Kwajalein Atoll and

Majuro Atoll to repair essential public utilities. When the dri-Enewetak

learned that actions were being taken to transfer property to otheratolls in
the Marshall Islands, they were quite concerned. They did not understand
the policy that U.S. Government excess must be used on US.
Covernment-funded programssuch as those in the TTPI and believed that
all excess should beleft for the dri-Enewetak to use or market. Transfer of
excess to GMI was delayed for several months while TTPI representatives
worked with the people’s attorneys to resolve the matter. Arrangements
were made whereby the GMI furnished somesealift for the dri-Enewetak
between Enewetak and Ujelang in exchange for dri-Enewetak agreement
that some excess could be used on otheratolls. !7
To expedite screening and disposition of surplus and salvage items, the
DPDR-PAC representative, Mr. George Fisher, developed simplified
evaluation and reporting procedures. His personalefforts greatly facilitated
prompt, effective redistribution and disposal of the Enewetak project

excess. Simplified procedures also were approved by HQ DARCOM for
disposition of U.S. Army excess through local Enewetak channels. !8
The USDA representative was briefed by MPRLofficials concerning
biota found at Enewetak and by JTG officials on the inspection and

~~,

Select target paragraph3