The scheduling of experiments, personnel, and logistical support, within the
confines of a small research budget, soon followed.
By early 1972, Area 13 (Project 57), Area 5 (GMX), and Clean Slates I, II, and
III and Double Tracks at the Tonopah Test Range had been identified as NAEG
study areas and contracts had been let for the construction of 92,000 linear
feet of fence to enclose contaminated areas at the Tonopah Test Range alone.
In the spring of 1972, four small experimental areas were laid out in Area 13
(Project 57).
These small areas later became known as "microplots."
Only one
of these, a few hundred feet west of ground zero, was selected for sampling
In February, 1972, soil profile and vegetation samples were taken
trials.
from the microplot (13-1) and prepared for analysis. These samples were
collected by NAEG investigators under the watchful eye of the NAEG statistician.
By late 1972, the foundation for the coordinator's activities had been established in earnest. The activities of many different personalities, of as many
different scientific disciplines, were being coordinated in an effort to study
the radioecological aspects of the Nevada Test Site and the Tonopah Test
Range.
In May of 1972, the groundwork had been laid for issuing grazing permits for
the Tonopah Test Range.
Subsequently, the coordination problem of keeping
cattle out of radiation-contaminated areas where they were not supposed to be
and in radiation areas where they were supposed to be soon developed.
Following the identification and fencing of the NAEG intensive study areas, as
they came to be known, coordination efforts were concentrated on bringing
scientists, engineers, radiological monitors, logistics, and money together to
determine where the radioactivity was; what soil, vegetation, animal, resuspension, and other conditions existed; and how to go about sampling these conditions in a realistic way.
Soil was the first, most basic, ecological compartment, therefore, the first
to be considered from a sampling and analysis point of view.
A team of experienced REECo radiological monitors was formed to perform radiation surveys of the intensive study areas and record radiation instrument
measurements with respect to ground location.
These measurements were then compiled by REECo personnel and transferred to
the NAEG statistician.
Liaison was established between REECo data evaluation personnel and the statistician, to coordinate field support with stake and sample location selection
information.
By February, 1973, Field Instrument for the Detection of Low Energy Radiation
(FIDLER) measurement surveys in Area 13 had been completed in coordination
with the statistician, and hundreds of soil and vegetation samples had been
collected by random location selection techniques.
The earlier work with the
Area 13 microplot provided sufficient information to establish standard methods
for the sampling of soil and vegetation.
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