Sampling Procedure." Four surface composite samples (A, B, C, and D) were collected at each stake
location. At the conclusion of that operation in each plot area, a backhoe was used to provide holes
for subsurface profile sampling. These holes were dug about 30 to 50 em away from the actual grid

locations to avoid moving the stakes and to a nominal depth of 120 to 140 em.

Sidewall soil

samples were collected every 10 em starting at a depth of 120 em inthe X-1 area and at a depth of

100 em for the X-2 and X-3 areas. The 5 em thick eut removed by the sampling tool was centered

on the respective depths below the surface.

The samples were collected from the lower elevations

first to avoid contaminating those samples with soil from near the surface which is expected to have
the highest concentrations of radioactivity. Tne nominal sample size was about 500 em*. If less
material was removed from a cut because of rocks or other debris, a second cut was made at the
same depth to insure sufficient sample. Except for the X-] location samples, each was placed in a

separate plastic bag and then in an appropriate size (1/2 or 1 gallon) steel paint ean and labelled
according to DOE/ERSP Procedure No. 4. The X-1 location samples were placed directly in steel
cans.
A petri dish with nominal capacity of 100 to 150 grams of soil was prepared in the field from the

sample cans for approximately half of the samples and sealed with black electrical tape. The date,

stake location, and depth of sample were recorded on the top of the petri dish.

Petri dish samples were prepared for the A and B surface composites at all locations and for each of

the subsurface samples from 0 to 100/120 em depth in two diagonally opposed locations (i.e., at
stakes NW 2-14 and NW 1-15; SB 0-14 and SW 1-11; NW 3-3 and NW 6-4) for each plot. Other

subsurface petri dish samples were prepared alternately for the odd (10, 30, 50, ete.) or even (20,

40, 60, ete.) depths. Petri dishes for these latter samples generally were not made for more than
one "coral sand" depth per stake location. Hence, at some locations petri dish samples do not exist
below the 50 to 60 em depth. All petri dishes were filled by the use of a plastic teaspoon,stirring

up the soil in the bag or can with each scoop. Rocks, large pebbles and large pieces of vegetation
were deliberately excluded from the petri dish, even though many of the cans included such material.

Petri dish samples were visually scanned for soil characterization and the information was recorded
in the Tech Advisor's daily log. These same petri dish samples were also wet-weighed to the nearest
gram on a triple beam balance and given a 5-minute gamma sean according to DOE/ERSP
Procedure No. 21, "Soil Sample Screening by IMP." The approximate calibration factors for this
IMP screening
technique were 0.1 pCi/g and | pCi/g for the net counts observed in 5 minutes for
241 4m and ! 7Cs, respectively.

Althoughit is anticipated that a number of additional analyses may be required, it was felt these
preliminary estimates of 24lam and 13%Cs concentrations in conjunction with soil characteristics
would be adequate for experts to judge the merits of these three plots as potential plowing
experiment areas. Projected data requirements included 90s, 239py, soil pH, and percent humus.
Because of these projections and the "Laboratory Soil Sample Procedures," DOE/ERSP Procedure

No. 8, all of the surface samples (A, B, C, D) and about one-third of the subsurface samples from

Plow X-] were analyzed in the EIC lab. The surface samples received gross alpha, 241 am (gamma),
and 238, 239, 240py analyses while the subsurface samples received gross alpha and 241 Am (gamma)
analyses. All of these samples were dried, so percent moisture was determined and density was

measured for the surface samples.
Preliminary Results

Soil characteristics are based on visual observations by the DOE Tech Advisor and the EIC Soil
Sampling Supervisor. The soil categorization was based on these parameters:
Material

Color

Texture/Wetness

Soil
Sand

Dark Brown
Brown

Fine
Coarse

Pebbles

Gray

Wet (excess water in petri)

Vegetation

Light Brown

Moist (condensation on petri)

Coral

B-9-6

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