RADIOLOGICAL CLEANUP OF ENEWETAK ATOLL A a one A se I aa SeSe Re Te ee ree 444 concentrations in other soil and merited special handling. He believed they represented “‘high-graded’’ material and, once brought under control, should not again be released but should be retained in DOE-ERSP custody until completion of the Runit effort. At that time, the DOE-ERSP would propose and obtain approval of a disposal plan. He recognized that it was highly probable that some particles remained in the Fig-Quince area and could be unknowingly placed in the dome or remain unexcised, but he believed that the fragments which had been found should remain undér DOE control.?> . ; The JTG J-2 and DOE-ERSP technicians on the atoll reviewed data available on the fragments from the FRST survey and other files and conducted a radiological sampling of the physical material. It was determined that the total of all material collected in bags measured approximately 60 millicuries of transuranics. The fragments themselves appeared to be weathered metal, some of which had concrete or soil attached, rather than high-graded plutonium. The transuranic content of the fragments, which had been the cause of concern, wasrelatively low.?6 ; ¢ Because of these findings, the bags of material were placed in the Donut Hole and choked with concrete slurry.?7 q RUNIT DEBRIS CLEANUP Although the EIS required disposal of all hazardous debris and crater containment of all radiologically contaminated debris, the cleanup of debris on Runit had been accomplished less rigourously than on other islands. This was not intended, or realized, by the Director, DNA or Commander, Field Command. It was apparently fostered by the concept that, since Runit would be quarantined, cleanup of debris there was a low- priority task. Too, since the debris was near the crater and transportation was not complicated, the cleanup could beset aside until the end of the soil-cement phase was near. Both of these views turned out to be illconceived. In reports from the atoll in September 1978, the CJTG interpreted the tasking to clean Runit soil to 160 pCi/g using available resources as applying to debris cleanup as well.?8.99 This interpretation drew a strong response from the Director, DNAtotheeffect that all debris on Runit must be removed. Nevertheless, Runit debris cleanup continued to be given low priority by the USAE well into 1979. Runit debris had been surveyed initially by the FRST in July 1977. Another debris survey was conductedfor the radiological characterization of Runit in December 1977. Additional surveys were madein the latter. half of 1978. Some of these surveys were directed primarily toward identifying hazardous areas for radiological safety and control, rather than 4 4 q y