4007 67 UNITED STATES ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20545 SEP 2 8 1973 Chairman Ray THRU: General Manager & of aX ~ m4 .¥ KPa /S d ENEWETAK PROGRESS This is in response to Mr. Gorman Smith's memorandum of September 21, 1973, to Mr. Hollingsworth. For the past year, the AEC has been izvolved with the Departments of Defense and Interior in planning for the return of Enewetak Atoll to its original inhabitants. From October 1972 to February 1973, the AEC conducted an extensive radiological survey of the atoll concurrent with a Department of Defense (DOD) engineering study. This study and our survey will provide a basis for planning the cleanup of the atoll. Further, the DOD and the Department of Interior (DOL) are jointly preparing a single Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the cleanup and rehabilitation of Enewetak. These activities are derived from a mutual agreement reeched by representatives of the three agencies on September 7, i572. It was agreed then that the AEC would fund for and conduct a pre~cleanup radiological survey and provide reccomendations for accomplishing cleanup; that the DOD would conduct 4 pre-cleanup engineering study, fund for and accomplish the cleanup; and that the DOI would fund, plan for, and carry out rehabilitation. It was further agreed that the AEC, on a reimbursable basis, would provide radiological support to the DOD, as requested, during the cleanup operation. When cleanup is complete, the AEC will carry out a radiological and biolasical verification program to include periodic monitoring for an indefinite period. “¢ ’ Our radiological survey is now the principal AEC activity and will provide the basis for the judgements and recommendations for cleanup and rehabilitation now being prepared for Commission approval. The Manager, Nevada Operations, with LLL's Radiochemistry Division Leader as his technical director, planned, organized, and carried out this survey. The reduction of data from nearly 4,500 samples of soil, water, fish, sea and land plants, air, animals, and birds is now nearly complete with the final report of the survey scheduled to be published November 1, 1973. SuUuES G3 fe y. Dpacpe Fe. LaePlE e) eede Cnen eE CES -