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by Joint Task Force Eight.
The AEC Nevada Operations Office (NVOO) was
responsible for certification of the clean-up portion of the rehabil-
itation program. This was carried out under guidelines approved by the
AEC Division of Operational Safety. At the request of NVOO, the SWRHL/
EPA took the responsibility for external radiation measurements and the
collection and analysis of those land plants which are food items.
The
University of Washington Laboratory of Radiation Ecology was asked to
collect and analyze other biological and environmental samples.
2.1
OBJECTIVE
The conclusions of the Ad Hoc Committee stated that the Bikini-Eneu
complex of islands could be used for continuous occupancy and agricultural
development sufficient to support the returning population.
clean-up of these islands require:
1.
2.
Recommended
The removal of all test-related debris with disposal at sea of
all radioactive debris.
Stripping of the vegetation to permit planting of coconuts,
pandanus, breadfruit, etc.
3.
Determination of external background radiation levels at each
step of the clearing and stripping operations.
4.
Obtaining additional samples of available food items for laboratory analysis for comparison with previously collected data.
Although permanent occupancy was to be limited to the islands of
Bikini and Eneu, the Ad Hoc Committee further concluded that "radioactive
scrap should be removed from the islands adjacent to former shot sites."
This removal of radioactive debris would make the scrap unavailable for
collection by the natives during food collection trips to these islands.
The final objectives of the clean-up program, therefore, included
the elimination of all physical hazards and the disposal of all radio-
active scrap from each island of the atoll in addition to the specific
measures cited for Bikini and Eneu.
2.2
CRITERIA
Rather than establish firm, restrictive criteria for the removal of
radioactive artifacts, or the elimination of high background areas from
the islands of the atoll, each situation was viewed in terms of the
potential exposure versus benefit. All debris or artifacts having little
or no useful value were removed. Scrap metal or concrete with contact gamma
readings greater than 100 micro-Roentgen per hour (uR/hr) was treated
as radioactive waste and buried at sea.
Three specific locations were
selected for this burial.
In some cases, scrap with contact gamma readings
less than 100 uR/hr was buried on land together with nonradioactive debris.
This was only done on islands where areas exhibiting background levels in
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