390
RADIOLOGICAL CLEANUP OF ENEWETAK ATOLL
that, if they desired such a study, he would recommend that one be
preapred.5’ The Council members expressed their desire to have the
study. From the DNA viewpoint, the mew survey proposed to the drj.
Enewetak by Mr. Deal was urgently needed and essential to Satisfactory
completion of the overall project and resettlement.
FISSION PRODUCTS DATA BASE SURVEY
In December 1978, DOE initiated plans for a final dose assessment to
serve as the basis for an information documentwith which the Enewetak
people could decide their resettlement options.58 LLL was requested to
complete this final dose assessment. It was to be based on: (1) an extensive
survey of the dietary habits of the Enewetak people, and (2) the lates,
radiological data. The latest data available on fission product levels was the
1972 AEC Radiological Survey (NVO-140). Even though manysoil profile
samples had been taken since cleanup began, none had been analyzedfor
fission products due to lack of resources. To develop the best possible
assessment, a new survey, focusing on fission products, was essential. On
10 January 1979, DOE-NV recommended to DOE-Headquarters in
Germantown, Maryland, that DOE-NV begiven a tasking assignmentand
that DNA be requested to provide JTG and Service element support to
obtain soil samples for the fission products analysis.°9 In a letter of 30
January to Director, DNA, Dr. James Liverman, Deputy Assistant
Secretary for Environment, DOE, requested an assessment of the support
DOD could provide to the survey in the form of soil sampling teams,
backhoes and operators, boat transport, and the like.In his 9 February
1979 response, VADM Monroestated that a meeting would be held on |2
February at Field Commandwith representatives from agencies involved
in the cleanup project and rehabilitation program to definitize the extentof
support required and what could actually be provided by DOD elements,
keeping in mind that plans for the wrapup of the project, demobilization
and retrograde werefairly well advanced.®
VADM Monroe, whochaired the conference, opened by describing his
perception of the tasking to prepare the atoll for return to the people and
his concern for the impact on the Services of undertaking an additional
mission with cleanup yet to be completed:
a. The project was an immensely difficult task, undertaken with little
certainty about its outcome and dependent on continuation of the
remarkable cooperation which had accompanied the efforts to this
point.
b. This more detailed survey of the northern islands was essential to
decisions that DOI and TTPI must make on planting coconuts on the