Letter to Schlesinger, Et Al, Subject: Eniwetok Radiological Survey

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UN ITED STATES ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION THRU: Gene ager This memorandum provide6 informationregarding current activitieson Eniwetok Atoll. These activities concern the surveys essential to the cleanup, rehabilitation,and resettlement of the atoll in connection with the announced return of Eniwetok to the Trust Territory of the In April 1947 the United Nations formally designated the former Japanese istered by the United States. Upon written notification to the U.N., Eniwetok was designateda nuclear testing site in December 1947, with the firet test series there, SANDSTONE, being conducted in the epring of 1948. Prior to SANDSTONE,the Eniwetok people, about 136 in number, were moved by the United States to Ujelang Atoll where they still reside, although their number has now increased to about 432. Additional test series were conducted in the atoll during the years 1951 (GREENHOUSE), The last of 43 tests was in July 1958. All tests have been listed publicly. Geographic location of the atoll is shown in Figure 1. Its remoteness suggests inherent costly operation6 to accomplish the necessary survey6 and Sub6eqUent cleanup. Figure 2 identifies the islands of the atoll and general.locationof the nuclear tests conducted. POE ARCHIVES On April 18, 1972, High CommissionerJohnston and Ambassador William6 jointly announced the intention of the United State6 to return Eniwetok Atoll to the 'TTPIsubject to retention of some minor residual rights. Subeequently,the Departmentof Interior (DOI), Department of Defense (DOD), and AEC determined that a comprehensive and coordinatedprogram to survey and clean up Eniwetok Atoll must be undertaken to make Eniwetok habitable. The program was divided into three phases: (1) Pre-cleanup iZadiologlca1end EngineeringSurvey, (2) Cleanup, and (3) Rehabilitation

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and Resettlement. As with Bikini Atoll, responsibility for cleanup and rehabilitation rest8 with the DODand DOI respectively. AEC is responsible for conducting a radiological survey, assessing the reeults, and establishing criteria and-constraints for cleanup and rehabitation, involving other agencies, as appropriate. Organization of the Eniwetok Radiological Survey, now under way, is shown fn Figure 3. The Washington Interagency Group is charged with coordination of actions to effect overall Eniwetok Atoll objectivea. The Manager, Nevada Operations Office, has been directed to plan, organize, and conduct the AEC radiological field survey to develop sufficient data on the total radiological environment of Eniwetok Atoll. Technical standards and requirements for the survey and cleanup operations will be provided by responsible divieions within AEC Headquarters..~ Specifically: has the responsib$l-ityfor reviewing and guiding the preparation of a report on the radiological status of the atoll. This report will be prepared by the Data Evaluation Group at Lawrence Livermore Laboratory. with DBER and the Division of Military Application (DMA) for planning the survey. DOS will provide the coordination of these plans and their extension during the survey with the Assistant General Manager for Environment and Safety (AGMES). DOS will also provide information on the eurvey to EPA staff at the Washington level upon request. DOS will review and evaluate all data and assessments relevant to the feasibility of various cleanup methods and methods for disposal of hazardous materials. Cleanup criteria, requirements, guidelines, and environmental and health protection standards to be employed during cleanup operations will then be developed by DOS in consultation with appropriate AEC staff sections and other agencies. (c) The AGw&as the overall authority and responsibility within the AEC for coordinating matters related to the rehabilitation of the Eniwetok Atoll. Tne radiological survey, and the interpretive effort associated with it, is a large program superimposed on a number of technically qualified organizations. Survey activities and analytical efforts by responsible organizations are reflected in Figures 4 and 5.

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As an example of the oomplex radiologicaleituation w'hichexiets on Eniwetok,one island, Runit, is shown in Figure 6 with a plot of gamma exposure rates on that island. Contaminationfrom eight tests on Runit is meaeurable today. An early preliminary survey has confirmed the presence of a plutonium-bearing, sand layer outcropping on the ocean side of the island, and the existence of solid plutonium-bearingchunks, grains, and other particulateeon the island surface and near eurface. Earth and debris moving activities during and after test operations have resulted in a complex radiological situation in which adjacent area6 may be quite different as to levels and vertical distribution of radioactivity in soil. Data available to date indicate that radiological contamination is less severe on other islands but is sufficient to pose with respect to funding Interagency Heeting, the following agreements (a) The AEC will fund the radiological aspect6 of the precleanup survey, the conduct of any other radiological survey activity that might be required to understand conditions in the environment as they relate to exposures of people and development6 of standards, and the conduct of periodic follow-up radiological surveys that take place after cleanup. If later field and/or laboratory work is done by the AEC in support of cleanup, ARC should be reimbursed (b) DOD would be responsible for funding the engineering portions of the precleanup survey and those monitoring and survey activities that are required to support cleanup operations and to insure safety of personnel involved in cleanup I activities. DOD also would fund the later cleanup of both ! responsible for funding rehabilitation cost6 once cleanup is Present best estimate of the cost of the AEC precleanup radiological survey is $1.3M. Costs of subsequent studies and radiological monitoring activities are estimsted to be approximately $lM per year for Py 1974 and beyond. DOD cost6 for cleanup and related activities are estimated at between $20-40M and may go higher. The actual final costs are highly dependent on the amount of soil and debris needed to be removed and subsequent disposal methods employed. To date the DOD has committed approximately $5OOK in the precleanup engineering survey.

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The initial field survey was contemplated for the period October 120 December 6, 1972. The first week of thie echedule was started, but not completed, when Typhoon Olga caused a suspension of actlvltiee. Subsequently, It was necessary to reviee and reechedule the survey to account for weather factor8 and logistic lfmitatlons. An aerial radiological and photographic survey of the atoll was accomplished . November S-25 during the period of minim1 logistic: support. Survey activities were resumed during the week of November 27 on a revised schedule and will now extend to mid-February 1973. The AEC radiological survey now appear8 to be progressing smoothly and collected samples are being returned to the COhWS for analysis. Data to date, based mainly on the result8 of the aerial survey, appear to be generally consistent with earlier knowledge and expectatione. Major General, USA Assistant General Manager for Military Application

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ABORATORY KIND O'F ANALYTICAL WORK SOIL MSSOLUTION AND ANALYSIS FOR PU AND goSR ANALYSISOF AIR FILTERS SOIL DISSOLUTIONAND ANALYSISFOR PU AND g"SR