344 RADIOLOGICAL CLEANUP OF ENEWETAK ATOLL ee ee ee ee 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 en ee a approximately 100 centimeters (3.3 feet).!5 ENJEBI SOIL REMOVAL CONTINUES FIGUI ows ee = 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 ae, : al = FOS gant —." Eig 34 at be ie vs = ae h . qe a pr — . olf = ee a 3 ae hae Sepliate tori iaane SS EN RT fan maihe a anh e Prytee ot ae aS " i a m 7 . : fees rn by Teor & Z mS? SereaE aSe e ce aio oO anne peApe CaPe ee SPS odeho SReae aeaEre Che x s va te orECR ~0g ye ates 5 NineXs vets. See fee ee oe ~ ? eee en L ae, ae cee a FIA Te ec Mot io ews : penta f ras aan eet aE a eer peat, ASC x (oe cs ee - fa wai reOeSe r aiid Sl rire a an Bi pat hee Al pr me “ay J ee & 4 8 ne fy aot a aes ™cn aechRak iceste pnt eS ‘4 Seale Py Sa read raeee, gararnae fe ‘ i cor’