484

RADIOLOGICAL CLEANUP OF ENEWETAK ATOLL
Beta:

$000 dpm/100 square centimeters fixed or 200
dpm/100 square centimeters removable.

Gamma:

_115 w R/hr fixed.

Yy

As the project drew to a close, the emphasis shifted to Preparing

equipment for retrograde from the atoll. FCRR Standing Operating
Procedure 608-14, Radiological Certification of Enewetak Ato}
Retrograde Equipment, 18 March 1979, was published to provide a more
elaborate system of record keeping andcertification for all equipment.

All equipment identified as having been on a radiologically controlleq

island at any time during the cleanup project had to be certified as

noncontaminated by the Radiation Protection Officer (RPO) or his
alternate prior to its release for unrestricted use off the atoll. Equipment

which was on a radiologically controlled island was monitored andcertifieg
as it was removed from theisland. Sinceall of this equipment hadto pass

Runit en route to Enewetak, Runit was established as the central cleaning

point for retrograde. Steam cleaners were borrowed from the base support
contractor until the USAE’s own high-pressure solvent cleaners were
delivered. After they arrived, the solvent cleaners were used until they
succumbedto the harsh climatic conditions and long hoursof operation. A

high-pressureair/salt water system using an air compressor and a venturi
nozzle was fabricated by the USAE and used most effectively for the

remainderofthe cleaning operation on Runit.23

To minimize transportation of equipment within the atoll, a second
cleaning area was established on Enewetak Island for equipment used

there. Before a piece of equipment was cleaned, it was monitored by

instruments and released to the wash rack. If any possibility of
contamination was found duringtheinitial monitoring, the equipment was
returned to Runit (Yvonne) for decontamination. Only one suchpiece of
equipment was sent to Runit with any measurable contamination,

although below thelimits for retrograde. Although mostof this equipment

was noncontaminated, it was cleaned to remove grease, dirt, and other

foreign matter to allow a higher degree of confidence in the
measurements.

Since another air compressor was not available, a fire truck was pressed

into service to provide a high-pressure stream of salt water for the
Enewetakfacility. This method also provedto be quite successful, allowing
the cleaning and certification of much equipment to be accomplished in a
relatively short period of time. Items which could not be decontaminated
were disposed of as contaminated debris. Prior to release of an item of
equipmentfor unrestricted use off the atoll, the JTG RPOor his alternate
reviewed the results of the monitoring and swiping to insure that the

Select target paragraph3