446
Runit (Yvor
RADIOLOGICAL CLEANUP OF ENEWETAK ATOLL
a. Remove
transure
b. Removs
depth o
volume
c. Erect a.
of Sout:
d. Clean all concentrations over 160 pCi/g concurrently with other soil
cleanup, using resources not currently employed on othertasks. The
amount of resources available for Runit cleanup would increase as
other tasks were completed until, eventually, all resources could be
devoted to Runit cleanup.
Thelast alternative was adopted, and the CJTG wasdirected to begin
cleanup of contaminated soil on Runit concurrently with other operations,
d. Dig a
quarant
using equipmentavailable at Runit when not in use on other activities.
The CJTG also was directed to segregate contaminated soil into three
stockpiles on Runit according to degree of contamination. The most
contaminated, principally that excised on Runit, was to be used to sustain
tremie operations while disposition of that having much flower levels
e. Quaran
The Direc
making a de
to be overtak
would be decided later. 105
At the 2
Director, D!
that “If we t
As the work wasactually carried out, however, the USAE concentrated
on the crater containment mission on Runit, leaving contaminated soil
and debris cleanup on Runit to be accomplished later. The USAEassisted
the Navy WBCTin disposal of debris removed from the waters around
Runit, but because other priorities required the use of available personnel
and equipment, no other effort was madeto clean Runit in }978. To sustain
tremie operations, soil transported from the other islands was used in
there redoin
presented 0:
possibly be
transportof
months ahe
filling the crater.
remaining tasks.}06 During the 1-9 August 1978 Demobilization
Conference, the Services were asked to address the issue of extending the
project past 15 April 1980. They responded that it was possible to extendit
until 30 September 1980, since they had funded the project through the
end offiscal year 1980.107,108
In December1978, the CJTG presented to the Director, DNA, and the
Commander, Field Command, his evaluation of the Runit situation.
South Runit met the radiological guidelines for agricultural use without
soil cleanup. Soil sampling had been completed in the Fig-Quince area and
indicated varied levels of contamination mixed to depths in excess of 4
feet. Soil characterization had not been completed north of the Fig-Quince
area and would require 12 days’ work. An estimated 28 acres in the Fig-
Quince area and 2 acres in other areas needed to be cleaned. The CJTG
identified the following alternative solutions:
completed 2
yards of con
4 tet
The delays in soil cleanup were discussed during demobilization
planning conferences in August and November 1978. Soil cleanup
appeared to be the one task which could require extending the project. The
Commander, Field Command noted, in a message to the Services, that
the 1S April 1980 project completion date in the draft demobilization plan
was based on the assumption that soil removal would be completed on
schedule. He also noted that, while he intended to exert every effort to
hold to the 15 April 1980 date, there was much uncertainty involved in the
from the ol
slightly mor
week. Clear
yards, could
1979, permi
month earl
apparent col
soil-cement
confirmed t
per week OF
The Direc
expedite del
turned to L
pCi/g), not
Enewetak. 1
options: Cle
Runit alone
The initic
cleanup of
Lujor; ie.,