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RADIOLOGICAL CLEANUP OF ENEWETAK ATOLL
The conferees prepared a new schedule for developing an OPLAN and for
mobilizing personnel and equipmentbased on a |5 June 1977 D-Day. They
also developed plans for support of the rehabilitation program. Plansfor
the early return of 50 dri-Enewetak to Japtan in March 1977 were
completed, as well as plans for employing someofthe dri-Enewetak in the
cleanup and rehabilitation work. Logistics policy and plans for supportof
the activities at Enewetak were also developed.287
BG Lacy’s team next met in Saipan with the Acting High Commissioner
of the TTPI, Mr. Coleman, and the dri-Enewetak legal counsel, Mr.
Mitchell, on 20 November [976 to coordinate plansfor the early return ang
for interface of the cleanup and rehabilitation efforts. The Field Commanq
team then conferred with Hawaiian area officials on 22-23 November 1976
on preparations for the cleanup project, including establishment of
branch exchange at Enewetak and a forthcoming survey by a Navy
team.288
This Navy survey team, assisted by Field Command personnel,
conducted a thoroughinvestigation of Enewetak Atoll waters and beaches
from 30 Novemberthrough 15 December 1976. They produceda definitive
report of harbor clearance requirements, beach access andtrafficability,
and personnel and equipment requirements.289 The report was
incorporated in the Field Command OPLANwith only minor changes.In
December1976, a team from the Pacific Air Forces Surgeon’s Office also
conducted a survey at Enewetak Atoll in preparation for establishing a
Medical Clinic at Enewetak Camp and a Medical Aid Station at Lojwa
Camp.290
CRATER CONTAINMENTDESIGN: 1975 - 1977
On 29 November 1976, POD completed theinitial ‘‘Design Analysis for
Crater Containment of Contaminated Material at Enewetak.”’ It concluded
that use of Lacrosse Crater would be unduly expensive and provided
procedures for use of Cactus Crater, as the preliminary DEIS had
proposed. At Field Command’s request, the design analysis provided for a
capacity of up to 200,000 cubic yards of soil, the worst case
anticipated,29!.292 with the capability of containing even larger quantitiesif
necessary. POD recommendedthat the tremie method of placing soil-
cementslurry be used below the waterlevel only and that placement above
the water level be accomplished by windrowing the dry soil and cement,
then spraying it with waterto initiate the cement’s bonding action.293 The
PODdesign called for containing contaminated debris in the contaminated
slurry mix and using dikes to contain slurry and debris placed after soil
cement operations had begun.294 Further details on crater containment
design and construction are in Chapter 8.
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