2.2.59 Priority of Island Cleanup
Radiological reconnaissance of Enewetak Atoll in 1971, confirmed by later detailed surveys,
indicated that, for convenience, the southern islands could be classified as "clean" and the northern
islands as "dirty." However, the groupings were reversed in terms of effort required to accomplish
debris removal and preparation for rehabilitation. Most of the uncontaminated debris was located on
the southern islands of Elmer and Enewetak, as these two islands had been extensively developed
during the testing period; unwanted facilities would have to be removed to accommodate
rehabilitation. Initial proposals in 1972 envisioned cleanup of radiologically "clean" islands first,
then progressing to increasingly "dirty" islands. It was suggested that this approach might produce
the greatest benefit with the least effort and the experience gained on the easier tasks could later
be applied to the harderjobs.
The DNA position on the priority of island cleanup was clearly stated in question and answer
worksheets prepared for use in congressional committee hearings held in March 1976. The following
answer was prepared in anticipation of a question:
"The plan of operation provides that the soil on Runit will be the last soil to be
excised for encapsulation into the crater(s). The plutonium-contaminated soils on all
other islands would be removed first. If, during the procedures, it became apparent
that fiscal constraints would preclude encapsulating plutonium-contaminated Runit
soils, we would request additional funds to complete all soil work. If this request
was not favorably received, the soils on Runit would be left in situ." (FCDNA, 1979.)
During testimony, the Director, DNA, deviated from the prepared answerand stated:
"If funding limits prevent the cleanup of Runit, which everyone considers the major
hazard on the atoll, we have only three choices:
e
Cancel or postpone the project until such time as we can meet our
commitment to the people.
e
Continue to retain control indefinitely over the atoll to prevent innocent
people from inadvertent exposure to the hazards that will exist on Runit.
@
Quarantine Runit forever, but this would not be in accordance with
standards established.
"The cost of mobilizing and maintaining the work foree on Enewetak Atoll is the
major cost. If, after having made this costly effort and then not completing the
cleanup, it would really not be a very cost effective method of operation. The most
significant hazard, the plutonium-contamination on Runit, still remains and must be
controlled or resolved some time in the future. The mobilization costs will again be
required when it is decided to resolve the plutonium problem.
"Incidentally, we cannot expect to be absolute in our cleanup of Runit. We can only
make our best effort to reduce the concentration of plutonium as low as feasible
within the established guidelines set by ERDA." (CR, 1976.)
Following the Senate committee hearings, the DNA staff was faced with the problem of resolving
the differences between what had been planned to that point and the commitments that the Director
had introduced in his testimony.
Northern island cleanup priorities were enumerated by FCDNA staff on 17 February 1977. A staff
paper included consideration of such factors as boat access to islands, the volume of debris and
contaminated soil present on each island, density of vegetation to be cleared, intended post-cleanup
island use, starting more complex (i.e., ground zero) islands as soon as methods had been perfected
on "easy" islands, and work on several islands at the same time. The suggested priority list was:
Daisy, Belle, Ursula, Alice, Clara, Edna, Pearl, Irene, Kate, Yvonne, Janet, Olive, Sally; small
northeast islands; Wilma, Vera. (Bramlitt, 2/1977.)
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