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Machine-read from the scan, so expect some errors. Lines that couldn’t be read are left out.
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DELETED VERSION ONLY FEB 23 i::3 MEMORANDUM FOR CHAIRMAN SEA BORG US DOE ARCHIVES v SUBJECT: B-52 CRASH AT THULE AIR BASE, “taw® This is the fourth in £ series of status reports to the Commission on the Thule B-52 accident situation. This report briefly summarizes information available as of 5:00 p.m., February 19, 1968. The collection of debris from the surface of the crash site is con tinuing but is essentially complete. Although intensive radiation detector and visual searches extending within an area approximately two and one-half miles north', two miles west, three miles south, and one mile east of the crash site have continued, the last piece of positively identifie<^MMdl|Qtthris was found on February 14. With the exception of the 0||j^H|lreservoirs which were shipped to LASL, all weapon debris is oein^shipped to the Rocky Flats plant where an intensive postmortem is now being accomplished. Of particular concern to the postmortem will be identification and association of the recovered debris with the specific weapons involved in order to ascertain what Collection of contaminated aircraft debris is estimated at 99 per cent complete. This debris is being sealed into steel containers and will be shipped to Oak Ridge for disposal by burial. The approximate volume of this aircraft debris is represented by its containment in four 18,000 gallon tanks, twenty-two 30 gallon and one hundred fifty-five 20 gallon drums, and thirteen 2800 gallon jet engine containers. Oak Ridge representatives who went to Thule to determine, and advise on, the adequacy of packaging of this material foresee no problem in the safe handling and disposal of it at Oak Ridge.
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With recovery of the contaminated aircraft debris, the contamination levels of the crash area have decreased. The majority of the residual contamination is contained in the ice crust and snow of the fuel burn area and southern one-third of the impact area. Analysis of snow and ice core samples at LASL shows tritium contamination as high as 40 millicurics per square meter as well as plutonium contamination in this area. Also of concern are "pockets" of plutonium-contaminated, unburned JF-4 jet fuel oil in the immediate crash area. Analysis of snow and ice core samples is continuing, with Danish participation, to determine the degree of snow and ice removal necessary, and the extent and disposition of the contaminated fuel problem. An initial estimate by the Oak Ridge representatives who have returned from the crash scene envisions the scraping of approximately the top five inches of snow and ice from the impact area, comprising a volume of approximately 100,000 cubic feet, or 750,000 gallons. Oak Ridge would also be prepared to dispose of this material, possibly in 25,000 gallon tanks, provided by the DoD at Thule and transported back by ship or barge by next fall or winter. Dr. Carl Walske (ATSD(AE)) led a team of eight DoD, ARC, and Laboratory scientists to Copenhagen on February 13-17 to confer with top officials of the Danish Ministry of Health, Ministry of Greenland and their Atomic Energy Agency. The latest information and concept were discussed frankly and freely at these sessions and resulted in the attached Joint Statement provided to both the Danish and American Presses. The Danes propose to conduct all monitoring and surveillance studies of the biota of the area using the logistic support of Thule Air Base and leaving to the Air Force the task of removing the debris and scraping up snow and ice in the contaminated areas. They are most concerned with the area immediately surrounding the "burn area" on the ice and may take a more relaxed attitude toward the low-level contamination at distances of four or more miles. The Danes are aware of plutonium being entrapped in the JP-4 fuel, of tritium being in the area, and of the probability of contaminated metal on the bottom of the bay, but made no issue of these. Nothing was said at this meeting about costs or payment for Danish activities. Pu-236 will be provided to assist their bio-analyses. pOE Trip reports soon to be prepared by the Division of Biology and Medicine will provide more detailed information. (See attached page for Original Signed by distribution) Brigadier General, USAF Assistant General Manager for Military Application MA:Prod AGMMA
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US DOE ARCHIVES JOD|T STATEMENT RELEASED TO PRESS /^So Scientists from Per mark and the United States met during February IS [Folder and 16 for discussions of the technical questions arising from the B-52 crash'older_______ano ao ror pis cuss ions TT^^JL**jh Thule, Gre^land. 1at Thule, Greenland. The meetings continued the close cooperation which has existed since the time of the crash. Scientists of both nations have worked together at the scene of the crash and participated in the gathering of scientific evidence. The scientists reviewed the considerable progress which has been made at the site in collecting aircraft and weapons parts. Contami nated material will be removed from Greenland. They also assessed the extent to which radioactivity was released. It was agreed that under present conditions the radioactivity spread in the area is not a hazard to people or biological species, nor is any hazard foreseen for the future. Nevertheless, an effort will be made to remove the main part of the radioactivity which is on the ice. The conclusions of the scientists regarding the absence of hazards to the biosphere will continue to be examined in detail. Further supporting evidence will be accumulated through an extensive program of data gathering. Participants from the United States Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Atomic Energy arCHIVES Biophysicist, Battelle Memorial Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory Atomic Energy Commission Atomic Energy CommissionDr. John Wolfe
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Participants from the United States (continued) Dr. James Shreve Physics and Mathematical Research, Major General Otto Glasser Headquarters, U. S. Air Force (AFRDC) Participants from Denmark Chairman, Executive Committee, Professor P. Brandt Rehberg Professor Jorgen Koch Dr. Paul Marinus Hansen Chairman, Danish AEC University of Copenhagen, Consultant to National Health Service Deputy Director General National Health Service Head, Radiation Hygiene Laboratory National Health Service Permanent Under-Secretary of State Ministry for Greenland Head of Division, Ministry for Greenland Head of Section, Ministry of Foreign Head of the Greenland Fisheries rirre Assistant Professor, Zoological Museum, University of Copenhagen Head of Department, Geographical Hydrographer, Ministry of Fisheries
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Professor Mogens Faber, M.D. Mr. Hans von Bulow Medical Adviser to the Danish AEC Director, Research Establishment Assistant Director, Riso Technical University of Denmark Head, Physics Department, Riso Head, Reactor Physics Department, Head, Meteorological Section, Physics Department, Riso Secretary General, Danish AEC Head of Section, Danish AEC