344
RADIOLOGICAL CLEANUP OF ENEWETAK ATOLL
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In August 1978, the Bair Committee visited the atoll and was asked for
guidance on several matters, including the stringency of the 40-80-160
pCi/g criteria for residential, agricultural, and food-gathering islands. The
Bair Committee responded that every effort must be expended to reach
these levels and that only after it is clearly shown that these levels cannot
be reached should a reconsideration be made. !3.14
DOE-ERSP extracted soil samples from the Easy and X-Ray GZ areas
on northwest Enjebi (Figure 7-8). Some 740 samples were taken from the
sidewalls of trenches dug by backhoes to a depth of 120 centimeters (4
feet). On 30 September 1978, DOE-ERSP reported that the two areas had
subsurface transuranics greater than 160 pCi/g, thereby exceeding Field
Command’s Operations Plan (OPLAN) Condition D. It was estimated that
1,300 cubic yards of soil would have to be removed to a depth of
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approximately 100 centimeters (3.3 feet).!5
ENJEBI SOIL REMOVAL CONTINUES
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On 3-6 October 1978, the Deputy Director, DNA, Major General
Richard N. Cody, USAF, reviewed Enjebi soil cleanup operations at the
atoll and decided to continue cleanup to 40 pCi/g surface levels.
Approximately 12,621 cubic yards of soil above 45 pCi/g were removed
between 24 August and 2] October 1978.
A fine grid (25 meters) IMP survey in early November 1978 revealed
new areas requiring excision, even though 40-meter grid IMP data and
Statistical analysis had indicated, with 70 percent confidence, that such
excision would not be required. This increase amounted to approximately
5,200 cubic yards. In addition, 29 areas over 40 pCi/g were identified. Soil removal operations continued with another 17,694 cubic vards of soil being
removed from these locations to reduce surface contamination from 45 to
40 pCi/g. In addition, 2,600 cubic yards were removed from subsurface
areas to bring them to less than 160 pCi/g. A total of 52,187 cubic yards of
soil had been removed from the island when the Enjebi cleanup forces
were redeployed on 2! April 1979, having completed all but the LLL tree
farm and plowing experiment (Plow-X) areas. 16,17,18
A week later, DOE-ERSP notified the CJTG that the Plow-X area could
be cleaned. Soil cleanup in the Plow-X area was completed on 9 May1979,
resulting in the removal of another 820 cubic yards. This completed the
Enjebi soil cleanup operation. Photographs of Enjebi before and after
cleanup operations are at Figures 7-12, and 7-13. The final DOE-ERSP
certificate indicated that, based on one-quarter hectare averaging, 97
percent of the island was less than 40 pCi/g (surface condition). A few
areas, well distributed over the island, exceeded 40 pCi/g, but none
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