Data The NAEG Soil Sampling and Analyses Committee was established in 1970. (and plutonium of distribution and concentration the to obtained relative later, other radionuclides of interest) were to provide basic source terms to be used by other elements in the interpretation of their results. Samples were predominately surface samples taken to 5 cm depth. However, results from some preliminary profile samples, taken at 2.5 cm increments, indicated the importance of plutonium at depths greater. than 2.5 cm and a percentage of The committee devised profile samples was factored into the sampling program. general procedures for sampling, sample preparation, and analyses of soils. Based on the preliminary objectives, certain exploratory experiments were One of the early conducted as an aid to design and development of methods. conducted in a was experiments was designed to test sampling techniques and In early 1971, in conjunction with Dr. Evan Romney, Chairman of microplot. the Field Ecology Studies Committee, a series of microplots was selected near The soil sampling methods which had ground zero of Project 57, at Area 13. been proposed were tested on the microplots; also tested was the proposed method for sampling vegetation. With respect to analyses, a number of methods for determination of plutoniun, the radionuclide of prime interest, were available. However, a consideration of the possible number of samples and variety of matrices limited consideration of methods to those which would be rapid and inexpensive yet accurate and precise for the anticipated matrices. Methods from the literature and committee members' experiences were compared and in some cases tested on "standard" samples. Two methods were chosen for final comparison by five cooperating laboratories. The two methods were those of Talvitie (1972) and what has since become known as the LASL-HASL digestion (Essington and Fowler, 1975). son of methods tion requested In some cases, neither of the A definitive compari- could not be made since in several instances, necessary informarelative to man-hours and total cost per sample was not obtained. only one method was tested or the cooperating laboratory used two methods. The exercise proved to be academic since contrac- tors for analytical work preferred to use the method prevalent in their own laboratory and since subsequent cross calibrations proved results to be comparable with all methods used. However, based on results which were obtained from analysis of standard samples, the LASL-HASL digestion was the method of choice, and it was recommended by the Soil Sampling and Analyses Committee. does use the recommended method; The LASL it has been modified to accommodate various matrices (Fowler and Essington, 1975). In July, 1971, the assistance of statisticians Dr. L. L. Eberhardt and Dr. R. 0. Gilbert of Battelle Northwest, Hanford, was obtained by NAEG to provide statistical input to the experimental design for sampling of various matrices and to interpret results of analyses. Some funding was made available for the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory (LASL) activities in 1972 and in January, 1973, a full-time staff member joined the LASL efforts. The committee concluded that its initial assignment had been completed, and in June, 1972, a detailed discussion of the Soil Sampling and Analyses Committee's activities was submitted in writing to the Office of Effects Evaluation. The discussion served as a step-by-step rationale of committee recommendations and procedures and as an informational document to serve as a guide to the NAEG program (private communication, 1972). 18