To develop a conservative estimate of the impact of adding an
additional 10 Ci of plutonium to the Runit Island inventory, one could
assume that the plutonium concentration in the lagoon water immediately
off shore the northern end of Runit Istand results from terrestrial] groundwater contributions.

It is estimated that the plutonium inventory on

the northern end of the island (300 m x 250 m) near Cactus Crater is
1.7 curies.

Recent data? shows, however, that the plutonium detected in

the near shore water is derived from other sources such as the sediments
and the reef as well] as groundwater.

The estimated plutonium grouncwater

contribution,” derived from this recent data,? appears to be less than
20% of the measured near shore concentration.

Therefore, if an additional

10 Ci were placed on the northern end of Runit, plutonium concentrations
in the off shore water would eventually increase.

During Oct. 1975 the

238+240bu concentration in the off shore water of northern Runit was 97
fCi/1.

For comparitive purposes, if 10 additional curies of 73%+?"°pPy

were present in northern Runit during this period, it is estimated that the
off shore water concentration would only be twice as high as the value
observed.
If it is then assumed that man's only marine diet consists entirely
of fish equilibrated with this increased water concentration, the dose
to man from this food pathway, calculated as in the 1972dose assessment ,
would be on the order of a few mrem,
2.

Crater Disposal

The low tide volume of Cactus Crater in 3.4 x 10* m?.

Quantities of

soil in excess of this volume will have to be mounded and extended onto the

Select target paragraph3