ot 2 Oe Ja,we eee dewiO2 . UNITED STATES ENERGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATICN NEVADA OPERATIONS OFFICE P.O. BOX 14100 LAS VEGAS, NEVADA 69114 ng pu AOleasl Dr. James L, Liverman Assistant Administrator for Environment & Safety U. S. Energy Research and Development Administration Washington, D. C. 20545 BEST COPY AVAILABLE Dear Jim, By now you have probably received from Bill Burr a copy of the enclosed statement regarding the Enewetak cleanup drawn up by some ofthe attendees at last week's Marshall Islands Workshop. Although the statement is unsigned, Lunderstand that it had con‘siderable support from the workshop attendees and I believe it merits your early personal attention. At issue is the so-called "soil cleanup" of the northern islets of Emewetak Atoll - an heroic effort, cost, at high dollar and environmental which will neither reduce the inventory of Plutonium in the Enewetak ecosystem nor, indeed, significantly modify its availability to man, Because this soil cleanup effort was devised based in part upon ERDA (AEC) guidance, and because ERDA is committed to provide technical advice and support in its execution, ] believe we have no choice but to subject it to continuous critical review. On several occasions in recent years, members of my staff have vciced objec- tions - especially to the disposal plan - to be told that "rocking the boat at this time!' could place the entire cleanup project in jeopardy. Today, however, mobilization and deployment are underway. Included in this mobilization are professional members of my staff who are placed in the position of advising upon and participating in an activily ' lOO i, fps, on av > «Lea bly éwe &i”, 4? &3 44 os ?76.431 9011228