Proposal for Second re-Survey of Marshall Islands (Includes Report Entitled: " Studies on the Residual Contamination on Various Marshall Islands Contaminated by Fall-Out During Operation Castle

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SAN FRANCISCO 24. CALIFORNIA tc REGISTRY No. 30674.23 1 05791 Proposal f o r second re-survey of Ihrshall Islands; request f o rS”B,ECT (1)Data sheets indicating items of primry interest to theLNCLOIURES IE SEIY ED CAUTIOS: Fur ‘‘need to know“ users only. Stow in loeked safe o r bar-loeked file when not i n use. 19 Oct 1955RETURN ROUTE SHEET TO COOE 3.113~

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BUREAU OF SHIPS To : Commanding Officer U. S. Naval Radiological Defense Laboratory (1) Subj: Proposal for second re-survey o f Narshall Islands ; Ref: N AWL DE FLAB CONF itr 3-9014395 EPC:icm of 17 Bug 1955 t o BUSHIPS BUSHIPS CONF l t r C-S90/1-2(348) Ser 348-075 of 25 Bug 1955 t o Div of Bio and Ned, AEC Preliminary Presentation of NBVRADLDEFLAB tech program. for FY 56 and FY.57.. .... End : (1)Data sheets indicating items of primary - interest tothe AEC Farshall Island resurvey. draft were forwarded toDr. C. L. Dunham, Division of Biology and Medicine, U. S. Atomic Energy Commission. 2. The U. S. Atomic Energy Commission has indicated an interest i n the Laboratory conducting a second re-survey o f Rongelap and other atolls, and has suggested that the re-survey b e performed 3. The Bureau is desirous of assisting the Division of Biology and Medicine inthe proper documentation and further evaluation of radiological and biological data obtained from such surveys. The level of support proposed a t one investigator man-year i n reference(c) is satisfactory to the Bureau. Accordingly, it is requested that the Laboratory submit tothe Bureau a proposal for the re-survey, incorporating the items listed in enclosure (1). Certain duplicate samples, t o be agreed upon, are t o be sent - Laboratory, New York Operations Office. support be forwarded tothe Bureau on o r before -1 5 November Reference (a) \ sub dt ted a draft of the final report on the By reference (b), two copies of the It i s re u este d that the proposal together with the details of require8logistic

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4. The U. S. Atomic Energy Commission has advised the Bureau that, if agreeable tothe Laboratory, it can make available an authority on the vegetation, soil, geology and ecology of the Marshall lslapds t o assist the Laboratory inthe survey. The authority is Fa Baymond Fosberg, Military Geology Branch, U. S. Geological Survey. It i s recommended that the services ofDr. Fosberg be utilized by the Laboratory. 5. Due to the sensitivity of the information contained inthe report, forwarded by reference (a), it is requested that $h Teport be given the following limited distribution : and Medicine ( 4 copies). b. New York Operations Office, M. Eisenbud (1 copy). c. Applied Fisheries Laboratory, University of d. Chief o f Naval Operations (1 copy). AEC, Div Bio eS

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eI. Atolls & Islands to be Surveyed C. Uti rik Atoll 1. Uti rik Island 11. External Gamma Area Survey A. Gamma dose rates at three above ground with field 7kere possible, make surveys a t same points on islands as previous surveys. Samples taken from known surface areas (x square feet) t o known deq_ths (0-2, 2-4 inches, etc.). Activity of S 90 per gram of calcium (Sunshine Unit -2.2 d/m of SrGo per gram of calcium). shis material contains infor&!&#’ ori zed person isp.

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1. Edible and non-edible, including grasses and young plants and trees with fruits. 1. Small and large reef feeders (omnivoroud and 1. Samples t o include muscle, bone, liver and eggs. 1. Samples t o include sea cucumber, clam muscle, and abdominal flesh of crabs. 1. Plankton'tows t o be made inthe lagoon and just off the reef on the seaward side. * Ac vi ties in dim/@ wet we4ght for gross activity and for Sr68 . Also, activity of S r per gram o f calcium 1. Sea water near the lagoon and seaward s.Activities 1. Plans t o be coordinated by AEC with t h e Trust Territories as t o most feasible procedure. i n d/m/mk for gross activity and forSr.

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Gross 2%- Activlty in the Major Plant Foode end Watm G m s Beta Activity Associated vzth the Solld plnrse in GTOSS Eeh Activity in Mis fella neo us Plant V S.