CLEANUP OF ENIWETOK ATOLL FOR RETUKN TO TTPI
1.
PURPOSE.
The purpose of this paper is to furnish information and recommendations for consideration in formulating
policy for the cleanup of Eniwetok Atoll.
2.
BACKGROUND.
a.
95
From April]1948 to July 1958 Eniwetok Atoll was the
location of
shots under the SANDSTONE, IVY, CASTLE, RED
WING and HARDTACK I Series of nuclear weapon tests.
Much of the
debris from these tests, some of it radioactive remains.* About
one-half of the 43 islands in the atoll was the location of some
test activity during this period.
For the past one and one-half
years DNA has been interested in Eniwetok Atoll as a site for
the PACE test series employing high explosives.
presently under control of the U.S.
The atoll is ©
Air Force which has an
inactive Air Force installation on Eniwetok Island.
contractor MATSCO
(a General Electric Co.
subsidiary)
A civilian
is operating
the facility for the Space and Missile Test Command (SAMTEC).
b.
On 18 April 1972 the High Commissioner, Honorable Edward
E. Johnston and Ambassador Franklin Haydn Williams made a joint
announcement that the U.S.
is prepared to return Eniwetok to the
jurisdiction of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (TTPI)
by the end of 1973.
About this time informal taiks began between
the DNA representatives and Capt Gordon S. Schuller, USN, the
action officer in the office of ASD(ISA)
return of Eniwetok to the natives.
c.
on planning for the
A survey team comprised of AEC, DOD and EPA personnel
visited the islands 10-24 May 1972 to determine the size of the
cleanup job.
This team found a significant radiological hazard
still existed on six islands, Bogallus, Engebi, Aomon, Biijiri,
Runit, and Byuemey (Belle, Janet, Sally, Ursula, Yvonne asstimme).
Engebi (Janet) in addition, is thought to have been contaminated
by a significant amount of dispersed beryllium, a highly toxic
substance.
This resulted from a high order explosion of a high
energy upper stage
Air Force in 1968.
({HEUS)
rocket motor while under test by the
d.
The initial "order of magnitude" cost estimate based
on this survey was of necessity based on far reaching assumptions.
This was because of lack of information as to the extent of
radiological contamination as well as the unpredictability of the
manner of disposal that would be required for radioactive debris,
since acceptability both from a bio-environmental and political
aspect are required.
The initial gross estimate made by DNA
was that costs could run as high as $40 million for this cleanup.