Memo to J L Liverman, Subject: Resuspension Studies at Enewetak and Bikini

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ENERGY RESEARCH AND DEVEl_OPMENT NEVADA OPERATIOPJS OFFICE LAS VEGAS, NEVADA 89114 James L. Liverman, Assistant Aclministrator for Environment and Safety, HQ RESUSPENSION STUDIES AT ENEWETAK AND BIKINI Reference: Report by the AEC Task Group on Recommendations for Clean\ip and Rehabilitation of Enewetak Atoll, Recommendation No. !11 of the referenced document is: 11A comprehensive air sampling program should be conducted over a. pe]:iocl of 12 consecutive months uncle r conditions closely approximating human habitation and expecteci soil disturbance. This would add to the body of available information on radioactivity levels in air. This program could be conducted coincident with and in support of cleanup operations. “ Although I do not kmo~v that any formal action has been taken upon the Task Group recommendations, the reference, in its entirety, has been published as a part of the Environmental Impact Statement for the Enewetak Cleanup (DNA, April 1975). Thus the reference, and most specifically Recommendation 11, is a matter of public record. Because .the recommended air sampling program is probably best characterized as a technique of radiological surveillance (as distinguished from either cleanup or rehabilitation), and because the radiological survey is agreed to be an ERDA responsibility, NV has taken some preliminary “ steps in anticipation of implementation of Recolmmenclation 11. Fortunately, a large body of resuspension information is available from previous studies supported by DEER and DiMA. Lawrence Livermore Laboratory has performed many of these stuclics, and at NV’s request,

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LLL has proposed, conceptually, an air sampling program which, ideally, would start very soon (before cleanup mobilization) and extend well into the cleanup. The data of the early months should indicate whether a program extending throughout the cleanup would be justified. A very “ball-park” estimate for such a program is $300K. Since we are unaware of any action on the above-cited Recommenclation No. 11, and since funds for it are not available in either NV’ s or LLL’s financial plan, we seek your guidance in A related matter gives me even more immediate concern. That is the apparent disparity between this proposed Enewetak effort and the much more limited effort lve have made to understand resuspension at Bikini, We have to date but limited Icno\vleclge of Bikini air mass loading and virtually no data on seasonal variations, Yet at Bikini 50 due shortly. The recent indication “of apparently elevated Pu leveis in Bikini urine samples should lend even more urgency to our efforts to investigate this question. A long-term air sampling program at Bikini would be difficult to mount and support, but given the requisite resources it can be done. I?of_ logistic reasons the cost per sampler will be higher than costs at Enewetak. However, in view of other life style restrictions on the Eikinians, a geographically Imore modest progra~m may suffice for the time being, Again, because no funds are available at NV for Bikini resuspension studies, your guidance is requested.