ope 534 RADIOLOGICAL CLEANUP OF ENEWETAK ATOLL The possibility of a delay in planting also was of concern to DNA. The cleanup was scheduled to be completed in 1979, and all DOD forces—o. which DOI depended for all life support services on the atoll—were scheduled to be demobilized and off the atoll by 15 April 1980. If the delays in DOE decision-making or in planting prevented completion of rehabilitation before this date, either the DOI portion of the project woulg have to be extended, at additional expense, or this particular portion of the project would have to be cancelled. Either of these outcomes would affec, the dri-Enewetak adversely and would reflect adversely upon the US Government’s fulfillment of its commitment. Thus, DNA wasdetermined that DOE and DOI resolve the issue expeditiously, taking all factors jn account. On 20 September 1978, VADM Monroe, Director, DNA, telephoned Dr. Liverman, DOE’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Environment, to express concern that further delays in resolving the matter could result in increased costs to the government. In this conversation and in one the following day with Mr. Deal, of HQ DOE, VADM Monroewasassured that DOE would expedite action on the matter.48.49 On 29 September 1978, DOE formally recommended that no coconuts be planted on the northern islands during the next planting season (May-December1979)_50 COCONUT PLANTING STUDY Meanwhile, anticipating an adverse recommendation from DOE, VADM Monroe had directed Field Command to conduct a study of coconut planting alternatives.°! A team headed by Field Command’s Colonel John Hemler, USA, began working with an H&N team headedby Mr. Charles Nelson to identify coconut planting requirements and alternatives. On 25 October 1978, H&N received formal direction from TTPI to prepare alternate plans for planting coconut trees at Enewetak Atoll.52 A joint Field Command-H&Nreport, ‘‘Examination of Alternatives for Coconut Agricultural Islands at Enewetak/Ujelang Atolls,’’ was issued on 20 November 1978. It provided a detailed analysis of pertinent factors, including natural decay of radioactivity, population trends, predicted diet, and coconutcropforecasts.53 Thestudy indicated that, while strontium and cesium levels on some of the six islands (e.g., Alembel, Lojwa) would diminish within 8 years to levels commonly found in the continental United States (CONUS), it would take over 135 years for others (e.g., Aej, Lujor) to reach those levels. Over 155 years would be required to reach CONUS leveis on islands where the original AEC Task Group report recommendedplanting