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SUMMARY OF OPERATIONAL PHASES FOR PROJECT 40 410994 OF OPERATION HARDTACK Division of Biology and Medicine Allyn H. Seymour, Program Director Project Officer, Project 40 Laboratory of Radiation Biology ,?’ Operated by the University of Washington under Contract No. AT(45- 1)540 with the United States Atomic Energy Commission
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AEC, Division of Biology and Medicine (Seymour) Hanford Operations Office (Englund) University of Washington (Burd) University of Washington (Laboratory of Radiation
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SUMMARY OF OPERATIONAL PHASES FOR To determine, quantitatively and qualitatively, the presence of radioisotopes inthebiota at the test site, in the northern Marshalls, eastern Carolines, and other islands as far westward as the Palaus. From these determinations estimates can be made of the geographical distribution of radioactive contaminants on land and in the ocean; of the radioactivity in foods eaten by the natives; of radioactivity in tuna and other fish of the commercial fisheries; of the concentration of specific isotopes by organisms and {issues; of the collections); of the vertical and horizontal distribution of contaminants in the ocean; and of other relationships. * Present levels of radiation at Eniwetok and Rongelap Atolls will be determined by thorough ~urveys of the two areas. Samples of plants, animals, soil and water are to be collected and sent to the laboratories for evaluation of residual radioactivity. Time schedule: February 9 - March 16, 1958 Support facility: USS Plumas County, LST 1083 (The Rongelap phase of this operation will be carried out with Dr. Robert Conard, Brookhaven National Laboratory, and members of the medical team for studies on the native health program). Division of Biology and Medicine, to Lt. Col. R. 1. Schnittke, Division of Military Application, February 19, 1957.
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Edward Held, group leader Project 40, 2 - Test Op eration Surveys: Lagoon - Atoll studies. will be evaluated as testing program specific projects at Eniwetok Atoll and animals from the islands proper and from the reef, especially food items, as well as water, plankton and soil samples will be collected and quantitative measurements of radioactivity com - pleted on all samples. A selected for analysis of specific isotopes to mineral uptake by the forms in the portion of the samples will add to the basic knowledge (b) Studies on the populations of rats on Janet Island to evaluate the soil-plant-rat-isotope relationship will be undertaken. Time schedule: April 12 - July 15, 1958 Support facility: Eniwetok Marine Biological Laboratory Transportation to the local areas by land, water and air is needed.
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A rotation system will be worked out so that a minimum of two and a maximum of four staff members will be at the EMBL at all times during the operations for Project 40.2. Project 40.3 - Oceanographic Surveys The U. S. Hydrographic Office, Office of Naval Research, and the Laboratory of Radiation Biology will carry out a cooperative program to evaluate the physical and biological aspects of ocean device, Wahoo. Biological measurements will include those for plankton, fish, and water to determine the amount, kinds, and movement
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of radioactive materials Time schedule: Pre-shot survey April 20 - April 30, 1958 Post shot survey May 15 - June 4, 1958 Supporting facility: USS Rehobeth Frank Lowman, group leader Project 40.4 - Pacific Pro./ing Ground Environs Survey The problems of evaluating the impact of radioactivity resulting from the weapons testing program are not confined to the Pacific Proving Ground but extend to the general area of the western Pacific Ocean. The weather stations operated as a part of the test program increase the facilities for measuring the fallout that may occur, and the support facilities for the weather stations provide a means of transportation for periodic visits for biological sampling. Time schedule: During the test program and post test period for three (3) weeks. Support facilities: Eniwetok Marine Biological Laboratory for a base of operations. Weather stations on Ponape, Kusaie, Tarawa, Ugelang, and Rongelap Atolls.
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Arthur Welander, in charge Project 40.5 - Tuna Monitoring Program The economic importance of the tuna fishing Pacific Ocean dictates the need for a careful study of in the western uptake of radioactive materials by fish entering the commercial fisheries. Sampling of the commercial fishery catches as landed in Japan offers the best means of obtaining the extensive coverage required to sample the area. Time schedule: May 1 - September 1, 1958 Support facilities: Tuna Fishing Industry Lauren Donaldson, in charge Laboratory and field personnel to be selected. Project 40.6 - Western Pacific Ocean Radiological Survey Following the completion of the testing program, the region from the Pacific Proving Ground westward to Guam will be surveyed to determine the amount, kinds and extent of radiological contamination of the western Pacific Ocean. The upper (mixed) layer of the
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ocean will be sampled at stations on a grid at about 50-mile intervals. Some stations will include water, plankton and fish samples from depths down to 200 meters. Time schedule: Four days after the last test for a period of about three weeks. The exact t~n:e depends upon the extent of the area to be covered and the speed of the survey ship Frank Lowman, group Project 40.7 - Rongelap Radiation- Ecolo gy Study The long-range radiation-ecology study of Rongelap Atoll will be continued. Iklajor emphasis will be upon studies of the soilplant relationship, aquatic bird populations and mineral transport from the sea to the islands, as well as evaluations of the uptake of specific isotopes by plants and animals used by the native people for Time schedule: August 20 - September 10, Eniwetok Marine Biological Holmes and Narver vessel LSM-444
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