536 RADIOLOGICAL CLEANUP OF ENEWETAK ATOLL Alternatives a and d were intended to accomplish as much planting for the dri-Enewetak as possible during the Rehabilitation Program. Adoption of either alternative would create no immediate or near-term radiation hazard because the trees would bear no coconutsuntil about 1985. By tha time, fission product levels in the soil and nuts might be insignificant. Also, it was likely that scientific knowledge concerning fission produc uptake and body burden accumulation through diet will have advanced to provide new techniques to minimize dose or exposure. Alternatives b ang c were intended to comply with DOE recommendations and minimizethe chances of uncontrolled use of possibly contaminated coconuts during droughts and delays in food ship deliveries at Enewetak. No coconuts from any of the northern islands were to be used forfood or drink under anyof the alternatives. Only coconuts from the southern islands were to be consumed. It appeared that there would be a shortageof ‘‘clean”’? southern island trees under any of the alternatives.©° Three “‘variations’” were proposed to alleviate the shortage: a. Plant the southwest islands of Ikuren (Glen), Mut (Henry), Boken (Irwin), Ribewon (James), and Kidrenen. Plantations had existed on these islands previous to World WarII, and it was estimated that they could accommodate 4,608 trees planted on 30-foot centers. This variation would have eliminated the remaining wild habitat on the atoll and would have been difficult and costly ($0.5 million) to implement becauseof restricted boat access to theseislands.®! b. Improve Ujelang coconut availability by planting 11,900 additional trees there, improving the Ujelang pier, and improving sealift capability between Ujelang and Enewetak. This variation would have cost almost $1.5 million in additional funds.62 In effect, it constituted a Ujelang Atoll Rehabilitation Program which would have been difficult to justify if all the dri-Enewetak were returning to Enewetak, as planned. c. Remove 3,600 feet of the Enewetak runway (leaving 4,500 feet to accommodate aircraft up to the size of a Boeing 727) and plant an additional 720 trees. This variation would have been difficult to schedule and implement since the full runway was required by the C- 141 cargo aircraft which supported the rehabilitation program. Its potential cost/benefit ratio was very unfavorable. 63 The study concluded that optimum subsistence coconut productions on the four southern islands could be achieved by planting 20,880 standard trees on 30-foot centers rather than on 26-foot centers as proposed in the Master Plan.§4 (The planting of 930 dwarf coconut trees prescribed by the Master Plan and the plantation contract was somehow overlooked in the study.) A total of 21,810 trees would supply 8 coconuts per day for approximately 600 people. Any additional requirements for subsistence coconuts would haveto besatisfied by adopting one ofthe variations. |