4.5 LOGISTICS AND MAINTENANCE
4.5.1

Liguid Nitrogen

Liquid Nitrogen (LN) was required for the operation of the intrinsic germanium gamma detectorsin
the RADLAB. Initially, LN was flown to Enewetak. Later, an LN plant was installed next to the
RADLAB complex. (See 3.4.3.) No recorded down-time of the RADLAB operations was due to a
shortage of LN.
4.5.2 Bottled Methane Gas

Methane gas was used as a counting medium in three RADLAB gas proportional detector systems, A
two-bottle manifold was installed on the counting trailer to allow cylinder change-out without
disruption of gas flow. An initial supply of methane gas was shipped to the island at the start of the

project and was followed by resupply from H&N in San Francisco on normally scheduled sealifts.
Empty methane gas cylinders were returned to Airco Industries in California for refill and return.

On two occasions, it was necessary to transport methane gas by MAC to avoid shutting down the

counting systeins.

Considerable effort was required to retard corrosion and maintain threads on

stored cylinders so the caps could be removed.
4.5.3 Replacement Supplies

All supplies and materials furnished for the project were purchased and shipped through the Eberline
Albuquerque, New Mexico facility by personnel directly responsible to the Enewetak project. In
April 1977, materials, supplies and equipment were brought into Albuquerque, inventoried, and

reshipped via Holmes & Narver (H&N) in San Francisco, for export to Enewetak by available sealift

or MAC flights. All expendable hazardous acids, and laboratory materials were ordered in quantities

that would allow completion of the full project without resupply, to avoid reshipment of items that

could only go by slow surface transportation.

A military storekeeper was assigned to inventory, issue and order supplies at the RADLAB on
Enewetak. On-island storage of materials utilized a bunker adjacent to the RADLAB complex (see
Figure 4-1), and a warehouse located on the south end of the island. Both areas were without lights

and were subject to many leaks during rainstorms. The bunker was used to store organic materials
and the warehouse was used to store separately the oxidizer materials (to minimize the fire hazard).
Most reorders of supplies and materials to be expedited were shipped directly to Honolulu by
commercial air freight and then on to Enewetak by MAC. Normal orders were shipped by truck to
H&N in San Francisco, and then to the island by MAC. A total of 183 resupply shipments of minor
nonhazardous items was made afterthe initial deployment.

4.5.4 Disposal of Radioactive Wastes
Radioactive wastes generated in the RADLAB operations were disposed of by packing and delivering
to the FRST for movement to the Cactus crater on Yvonne. The requirements set by the FRST were
used in the preparation and transfer.
Solid Waste.

The RADLAB produced solid wastes totalling approximately 4000 cubie feet.

This

volume consisted of 36 55-gallon drums of soil, 59 wooden crates, and 12 filter boxes from the
following sources:
1.

Soil from field samples that remained after the analysis and archiving aliquots were
removed.

2.

Metal cans used to collect the samples in the field which were damaged in transit to the

3.

Laboratory drying pans and glassware.

4.

Paper and rubber goods contaminated during the laboratory process.

De

One damaged 137Cs 10 mCi calibration source.

RADLAB.

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