Planning and Programming
69
cleanup of the atoll. H&N was selected because of their long experience in
providing technical and logistics support at Enewetak during the nuclear
test period and because the firm had a large repository of data and maps
pertinent to the locations and effects of the tests.29
The Enewetak Engineering Survey began on 12 October 1972. Field work
was accomplished by three two-man teams working in conjunction with
the AEC radiological survey team. They used motor launches for
transportation across the lagoon and rubber rafts to travel from the
launches across the shallow reefs to most of the islands. The H&N teams’
first effort on each island was to locate the buildings and other facilities
shown on maps from the nuclear testing era. Then they recorded each
object’s present condition and their recommendations for its disposition.
Whenall previously recorded objects had been accounted for, each island
was resurveyed to assure that any other hazardous objects had been
located and recorded for the survey report. Vegetation was so dense on
someislands that it prevented a thorough search for hazardousobjects. On
islands where radiological contamination was suspected, the AEC
radiological survey personnel checked each object for contamination.
Readings were marked on the Engineering Survey maps. Material which
showed radiation measurements greater than measurements of local
background was shownas contaminated.30
The surveys were severely hampered by adverse weather. Heavy sea
conditions prevented actual survey of Boken (Irwin) and Ribewon
(James) Islands, however, they had been adequately covered by the May
1972 survey. Typhoon Olga struck the atoll on 23 October 1972, and the
Commanding General, SAMTEC, ordered an air evacuation of all
personnel to Kwajalein Missile Range. Little time was given to protect the
base camp from the effects of the typhoon, and several facilities were
severely damaged. After the return to the atoll, AEC-NV had two turbine
generators from the Nevada Test Site flown in to restore power for
essential life-support facilities. Engineering Survey field work resumed on
8 November and was completed on 21 December 1972. Results of the
survey, together with some data from the AEC Radiological Survey, were
published in April 1973 as the Engineering Study for a Cleanup Plan.3!
The Engineering Study contained the results of the field survey and
conceptual plans for accomplishing the cleanup project using a commercial
contractor or, as an alternative, using military forces. It was published in
three volumes.
Volume I showedthe results of the island-by-island site survey, with
aerial photographs of each island and a listing of all structures, other
construction, and major debris on each. The condition of each item was
indicated, along with a recommendeddisposition; e.g., remove, leave as
is, make safe, or rehabilitate. Each recommendation was based on