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June 16, 1972
In December 1947, the President approved the use of
Eniwetok, a central Pacific atoll, as one of two Pacific
nuclear test sites.
The Eniwetok tests began in April
1948 followed by tests in 1951, 1952, 1954, 1956 and
1958.
There were 43 nuclear detonations, of which 35
were announced publicly,
Currently the Defense Nuclear Agency: is preparing a series
of high explosive cratering experiments on several islands
in the atoll. This program, known as PACE, is part of a
series of experiments designed to provide blast and shock
environmental data, for assessing and upgrading tne hard-
ness of strategic systems.
In 1971, at the request of the
Air Force (PACE) staff, AEC conducted radiological surveys
of the islands that were to be used for the PACE experiments. The surveys identified plutonium contamination on
Runit Island where some PACE shots are scheduled.
Tnis
was further confirmed by another AEC survey in April 1972.
Studies of the records of test operations showed that this
resulted from the detonation of two safety related shots
that scattered kilogram amounts of plutonium on the island.
The exact area and extent of contamination has not been
fully determined. Subsequent earth and debris moving
activities have spread and mixed the contaminated soil
through much of the island. A piece of bomb material
weighing about 700 mg and containing 40 mg of plutonium
was collected and analyzed. The AEC and Defense Nuclear
Agency are evaluating the results of the radiological
survey with respect to conducting the PACE experiments
as planned, with appropriate precaution, or whether
another site will need to be selected.
In April 1972, Interior and Trust Territory jointly
announced that Eniwetok would be returned to the Trust
Territory at the end of 1973. An extensive radiological
survey is planned for this fall to determine the feasibility and/or extent of the cleanup required for rehabilitation of the islands.
In addition to the radiological
problem, which also includes burial grounds containing
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