~

i

Dem obilization

485

were all within the established limits. The RPO oralternate then
prepared statement whichidentified the equipment and certified
signed 4
thatit could be released for unrestricted use. The original certificate was
readings

~

kept bY the JTG Radiation Control Division, while two copies were

rovided to the using or owning activity. Shipping documents

accompanying retrograde equipment which had been usedin controlled

areas were annotated to reflect that the equipment had been certified for

unrestricted useoffthe atall.24

As retrograde cleaning got underway, the basic philosophy developed
within the JTG J-2 and FRSTwasthat, not only did the equipment have to
pe radiologically clean, but it also had to look clean to a casual observer.

From this philosophy, very stringent standards of physical cleanliness

developed andprevailed throughoutthe processing of retrograde. Meeting

w

these standards was a major challenge for the various owners and

operators of equipment. Meeting the cleaning standards required much

dirty, grimy, greasy, unpleasant work, sometimes in cramped, hot spaces
under vehicles or inside engine compartments of boats. The lesson that
vehicles and equipment could be cleaned to the exacting standards
required had to be learned, in turn, by each of the major organizations
.
which had equipmentto be retrograded.
As each organization went through the learning process on cleaning,

there were complaints that the standards weretoo strict, unnecessary, and

impossible to meet. In somecases, differences of opinion between FRST
and the individuals doing the cleaning led to heated discussions over the
standards and procedures, and the adversary relationship that developed
caused some morale problems. As the success of the retrograde cleaning
became more apparent, many ofthe difficulties were overcome, only to
reappear as a new organization started cleaning their equipment for
retrograde.

The 8th Radiation Safety Audit and Inspection Team inspectors
recommended that the equipment which had never been on radiologically

controlled islands be certified in some manner. It was decided that the
owners of such equipmentcould certify that their items had never been on

a controlled island.

SEPTEMBER 1979 SEALIFT
On 3-4 September 1979, the USS FORT FISHERcalled at Enewetak to

pick up retrograde cargo. Army depotinspectors had determined that over

half of the itemsoriginally scheduled for retrograde in September were not

economically repairable. A total of 4,065 measurement tons was shipped

Select target paragraph3