496

RADIOLOGICAL CLEANUP OF ENEWETAK ATOLL

yp

and completed successfully with no adverse impact on the completion of

the cleanup project. While analysis of the technical data obtained during

the survey is ongoing, preliminary indications are that the datais of high

quality and that the accomplishment of the EASI project has provided
significant contributions to the understanding of cratering mechanics and
effects.
COMPLETION OF CLEANUP OPERATIONS
On 5-8 February 1980, the final quarterly review was conducted with the
dri-Enewetak municipal and planning councils, the Chief Secretary of the
GMI, Field Command and TTPI representatives to assure that all
remaining cleanup work wasidentified prior to departure of the Military
Service elements.°4 The review found that all remaining work had been
scheduled and was being accomplished well ahead of schedule. Army and
Navy elements were reduced to the minimum essential to complete their
remaining cleanup tasks.

The watercraft which had been declared unserviceable by all concerned

were disposed of by the USNE prior to their departure. The week of10
February 1980, four landing craft and three miscellaneous craft were sunk
at dumpsite Alpha. Prior to their departure, the USAEpolicedall beaches
and cleaned out the burn dump at Enewetak Camp.
;

A trailer chassis was discovered on Ribewon (James) Island in early
February 1980. The last LARC had been retrograded on the January
sealift, and the island was unapproachable by landing craft. Two men were

airlifted to the island by helicopter to burn the tires and cut the chassis into
pieces which could belifted by helicopter. The residue was dumpedatsite

Alpha by helicopter.°5

On 15 February 1980, H&N-PTD assumedresponsibility for POL and
airfield operations from the Air Force teams. On 27 February 1980, the
remaining military service cleanup forces, with the exception of those
required to support rehabilitation and rollup operations, redeployed from
Enewetak Atoll. In the 27 months since the Cleanup Phase began, they

had accomplished the hazardous cleanup plus a considerable amount of
workidentified as cosmetic cleanup. The cleanup had been accomplished

1-1/2 months earlier than anticipated in OPLAN 600-77, despite
typhoons, organizationaldifficulties, logistics problems, and otherdelays.
In accomplishing the cleanup of Enewetak Island, the JTG disposed of a
total of 132,780 cubic yards of hazardous and obstructive debris.This total
includes 22,000 cubic yards which were removed by a Scrap contractor and
49,340 cubic yards which were used as shoreline protection.

Select target paragraph3