followup radiological surveys and routine medical surveillance at Bikini

Atoll.

The role of DOD was to direct and conduct the cleanup effort and also to
provide funds ($300,000) for a portion of the costs. Vice-Admiral L. M.

Mustin, Director of the Defense Atomic Support Agency (DASA) was named

project manager. Most of the men and equipment were provided by DASA's
Joint Task Force 8. Cleanup began in February 1969 and was completed in
October of that year. AEC provided monitoring and health physics support

for the cleanup project and criteria and advice on disposal of contaminated

debris. Scrap metal containing induced radioactivity, mostly cobalt-60,
was dropped into deep water in one of three disposal sites in the lagoon
and ocean,

The role of Department of the Interior was to plan, conduct, and fund the
agricultural rehabilitation and housing construction programs. Planting
of coconut trees has been finished and 40 housing units are nearing completion. The first Bikini families will be returned when housing is available.
Interior budgeted $1.7 million for the rehabilitation program. ©
Problems with plutonium contamination at Eniwetok Atoll are shown by the
following:
Radiological surveys in 1971, conducted by AEC at the request of Defense
Nuclear Agency and in support of PACE,identified plutonium contamination
on Runit Island where PACE tests are scheduled. This was further confirmed

by a later AEC survey conducted in May 1972.

A piece of bomb material

weighing about 700 mg and containing 40 mg of plutonium was collected and
analyzed. Studies of the records of test operations showed that this piece
of material resulted from detonation of one of two safety related shots that
scattered kilogram amounts of plutonium over the island and adjacent shore,
ocean and lagoon areas. The exact area and extent of contamination over
this island have not been fully determined and work to define levels of
‘contamination in nearby shoreline and shallow.water areas has not yet
Started. Subsequent earth and debris moving activities have spread and
mixed the contaminated soil through much of the island.
Assuming that cleanup of the island is feasible at all, it is impossible

to estimate the exact magnitude of the job until more extensive radiological

surveys have been conducted. Some surveys are planned for the fall in anticipation of cleanup and rehabilitation of the atoll.

There are no funds budgeted in ¥Y '73 for any cleanup activities or for the

radiological survey at Eniwetok. The Nevada Operations Office has estimated
that a complete survey of Eniwetok would cost $225 thousand.
. 5 - Sof’ 22146ffo 70

CONMDENIIAL

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