@® & ees Lo June 16, 1972 In December 1947, the President approved the use of a Eniwetok, a central Pacific atoll, as one of two Pacific nuclear test sites. The Eniwetok tests began in April 1948 followed by tests in 1951, 1952, 1954, 1956 and 1958. There were 43 nuclear detonations, of which 35 were announced publicly. Currently the Defense Nuclear Agency: is preparing a series of high explosive cratering experiments on several islands in the atoll. This program, known as PACE, is part of a series of experiments designed to provide blast and shock environmental data, for assessing and upgrading tne hnardness of strategic systems. In 1971, at the request of the Air Force (PACE) staff£, AEC conducted radiological surveys of the islands that were to be used for the PACE experiments. The surveys identified plutonium contamination on Runit Island where some PACE snots are scheduled. Tnis was further confirmed by another AEC survey in April 1972. Studies of the records of test operations showed that this resulted from the detonation of two safety related shots that scattered kilogram amounts of plutonium on tne isiand. The exact area and extent of contamination has not been fully determined. Subsequent earth and debris moving activities have spread and mixed the contaminated soil through much of the island. A piece of bomb material weighing about 700 mg and containing 40 mg of plutonium was collected and analyzed. Tne AEC and Defense Nuclear Agency are evaluating the results of the radiological survey with respect to conducting the PACE experiments as planned, with appropriate precaution, or whether another site will need to be selected. In April 1972, Interior and Trust Territory jointly announced that Eniwetok would be returned to the Trust Territory at the end of 1973. An extensive radiological survey-is planned for this fall to determine the feasibility and/or extent of the cleanup required for rehabili- tation of the islands. In addition to the radiological problem, which also includes burial grounds containing bees me ee nee IS) RIVICV ERE AUTHOR; NAME: Itt as vs - ae “F Ey AUTHORITY: ADD 26D & VIEWERR-GATl: NAME: — j 1 iTate ys VOLT La etn 12 Le ogg AOE ‘ LO we CANT FLST Gee ze) MEQBRACKETED — me Sa RES This at socumes datfined ing ~. semination oF person is probiv CARRERA TA Rcstricted Energy Date Act ef osure ta Oh