Radiological Survey Plan for the Northern Marshall Islands

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RADIOLOGICAL SURVEY PLAN THE NORTHERN MARSHALL ISLANDS PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES SCOPE OF SURVEY E. AERIAL PHOTO AND IUIDIOLOGICAL F. SURVEY SCHEDULE AND SERIES MAPS DRAFT MEMOWTDUM OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN DEPTS OF THE NAVY, ENERGY, AND INTERIOR VI PUBLIC INFORWTION FALLOUT FROM PACIFIC TESTS

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THE PURPOSE OF THE NORTHEKX MRSHALL ISLAh~S SURVEY PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE A DOCUMESTATIOX OF THE RE’.”AIXIXGRADIOACTIVIIY FRON NUCLEAR TESTING AND TO PROVIDE SUPPORT DATA FOR AS ASSESSMENT OF THE RADIATION DOSE TO PEOPLE BEFORE THE TER~lIXATIOXOF THE LXITED NATIONS TRUST AGREENENT . 1. TO OBTAIS AERIAL FSDIOLOCICAL >LI?SOF ATOLLS, AND ISLAXDS, A study has identified 11 atolls and 2 islands as those most likely to have received fallout from one or more nuclear tests conducted at Bikini and Enewetak during the U.S. Pacific testing program. 2. TO SANPLE A\llMEASURE THE RADIOACTIVITY IX SOIL, WATER, PLANT LIFE AND FOOD, ADJACENT YARIXE WATERS, AXD MARINE AllDTERRESTRIAL LIFE, 3. TO PREPARE A REPORT hWICH WILL PRESENT THE FINDINGS OF THE SURVEY AND AN ASSESSMENT OF THE RADIATION DOSES TO THE PEOPLE WHO MAY BE LIVING ON THE SURVEYED ATOLLS AND ISIJ%?llS.

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The U.S. nuclear weapons testing program conducted from 1946 to 1958 in the Pacific left long-term radiological contamination and health problems. Bikini and Enewetak Atolls, where the testing was conducted, were the most severely affected, but fallout from these tests has touched - many islands in the Northern Marshalls. Of special concern was the heavy fallout from the March 1954 test which caused radiological injury to many .,.. of the people of Rongelap and resulted in at least one death for radiation The Department of the Interior (DOI), Department of Defense (DOD), and the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC), later the Energy Research and Development Administration (ERDA), and now the Department of Energy (DOE), cooperated in the steps taken to date to perform radiological sumeys and assessments (1967-1968) and to perform cleanup and rehabilitation of Bikini (1969 to present) and in the radiological survey and assessment of Enewetak Atoll (1972-74). This Enewetak survey utilized the most up-to-date and modern techniques, including the aerial survey of islands utilizing sensitive radiation monitoring equipment carried in helicopters. The DOD began the Enewetak cleanup in PY 1977, with the DOI rehabilitation program initiated during cleanup to take advantage of logistics and communications capabilities attendant to cleanup operations. The DOE has performed follow-upradiological surveys at Bikini and Enewetak Atolls. It also conducts medical observation of the exposed populations of Rongelap and Utirik Atolls at frequent intervals. The Department of the Interior (DOI), Office of Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (TTPI), is responsible for rehabilitation of the former test sites, Bikini and Enewetak. Phase I of the Bikini program included planting of coconut trees and building 40 homes and other community buildings on Bikini Island. The houses were built along the lagoon shore where the radiation levels were the lowest. In responding to a request from TTPI for

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assistance in locating the second group of ‘houses on Bikini Island, the ERDA recommended that an aerial survey of the type flown at Enewetak be conducted fo’rthe entire Bikini Atoll. This survey data including contours of the total external gamma content and plutonium in the soil surface. Neither had the integrated logistical support system needed would provide detailed the ERDA nor the DOI for an aerial survey and DOD was requested to supply this. Since DOD would request reimbursement for its support and there was insufficient time to obtain the necessary funding, ERDA conducted a limited ground survey of external radiation levels on Bikini and Eneu Islands in June 1975. The results of this survey showed that the radiation of the interior of Bikini Island was too high for further housing settlements and that future settlements on nearby Eneu Island would minimize radiation exposures. Currently, the Bikini resettlement project is under review. A lawsuit, THE PEOPLE OF BIKINI, ET AL VS. SEAMANS, ET AL, CIVIL NO. 75-348 U.S.D.C., D. Hawaii, alleges that the U.S. Government has not assessed properly the radiological conditions at Bikini and among other things, requests the court to order an aerial survey for Bikini comparable to that conducted at Enewetak. During negotiations with the Department of Justice, the plaintiffs’ legal counsel recognized that the surveys and evaluation of radiological conditions at Bikini Atoll were not as comprehensive as more recent work at Enewetak Atoll, and sought an aerial radiological survey of Bikini and the other northern Marshall Islands. The merits of the aerial survey have been thoroughly discussed at staff levels between DOI, DOD, and DOE both before and after the initiation of the lawsuit. Briefings on the survey were provided to the Administrator of ERDA, the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Health and Environment), the Department of the Interior, Office of Trust Territories, staff members of OMB, and the Chairman of the CEQ.

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After obtaining cost estimates for logistics support from the DOD and the technical program from ERDA, (oMB) determined that the survey reimbursement of DOD’s logistics m supplement. DOE was directed to the Office of Management and Budget would be conducted, and funds for support were included in a DOI FY 78 absorb the technical program costs. Although the U.N. Trust Territory Agreement with the U.S. is expected to end soon, it is clear that the U.S. will continue to have a vital national interest in the northern Marshalls. Resettlement of Bikini Island has suffered a setback due to radiation exposures significantly exceeding acceptable standards, and the cond~tional nature under which Enewetak is being resettled, and the need to continue following the health of the Rongelapese, will require radiological monitoring of these people and their environment for the foreseeable future. The aerial survey will be a major part of a standardized data base which will provide information needed for evaluating any future claims for damage or injury. It will contribute to the future monitoring program planned for Bikini, Enewetak, and Rongelap atolls. In addition to Enewetak, Bikini, and Rongelap Atolls, there are eleven other atolls or single islands that received intermediate range fallout from one or more of the megaton range tests. A number of these atolls are presently inhabited while others are used for food collection. During nuclear test operations, there was a limited monitoring program that did not provide an~here near the coverage that can be obtained with the current aerial survey technology and instrumentation. In addition, there is little or no data on possible plutonium contamination outside of Bikini and Enewetak The proposed aerial suney uses the same equipment and procedures which were successfully employed at Enewetak Atoll in 1972-1973. As documented

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in the lawsuit, the people of Bikini feel they have been short-changed because the U.S. conducted a highly visible, exhaustive radiological survey of Enewetak. The Bikini portion of the aerial survey, coupled with the previous and plamed ground surveys, will go a long way toward making the Bikini data base comparable to that of Enewetak. If the aerial survey of the northern Marshalls, including Bikini, is not conducted, the U.S. Government would undoubtedly be precluded from settling the Bikini lawsuit out of court. While there is the expectation of a successful defense of this suit, there is considerable potential for adverse publicity deriving therefrom. The U.S. could also be charged with not taking all prudent steps to assure that there were no individual sources of radiological contamination on islands released from U.S. custody.

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SCOPE OF SURVEY PROGRAM The Radiological Suney program of the Northern Marshall Islands will cover the following atolls and islands within the time frame of July So. of Islands To Be Surveyed *The term “Island” is used in this case to denote an isolated island that is not part of an atoll and does not have a lagoon.

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The Marshall Islands Radiological Survey Program organizational relationships are shown on the chart below.

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The management of all aumey operatims -11 be the responsibility of techntcaldirectorsfor the Terrestrial and Marine Program. the and Eupport the NV Progrsm Manager, and La full aumey party in expected to include representative of:

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RADIOLOGICAL SURVEY PLAN FOR THE ,., ... The Division of Operational and Environmental Safety (03S) is responsible for coordination with the Department of Interior and all Washington level Federal agencies and officials and to provide the technical program guidance,to the Nevada Operations Office. ?$y!j” The Nevada Operations Office is responsible for administering the technical program and to assure the successful accomplishment of the objectives of the program plan. The technical direction of the sampling program will be carried out by the Lawrence Livermore Laboratory (LLL) supported by personnel from the following organizations, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), University of Washington, and Brookhaven National Laboratory. The technical efforts of the participating organizations will be carried out as a cooperative effort utilizing the skills and resources of its individual members under the direction of LLL. Members of these organizations will collect the necessary samples and perform the necessary measurements. Samples will be collected from atoll soil, water, plant life and food, adjacent marine waters, and marine 137 9osr andand terrestrial life. All samples will be analyzed for Cs , the transuranics by wet chemical methods. The analysis of the samples will The evaluation of the analytical data will be performed by the members of the participating organizations with the technical coordination of the Lawrence Livermore Laboratory. The ground radiological surveys of certain atolls will be performed under the technical direction of the Lawrence The aerial radiological surveys of the atolls will be performed by EG&G. The estimated time required for completion of the aerial operations is 21 days. This period of time includes the time to move operations between atolls as well as to perform the suneys of each atoll but does not include the travel time to and from the Northern Marshall Islands.

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Due to the length of the sumey program, the technical pers~nnel will be rotated through three series to maintain maximum efficiency and dedication of effort. Medical personnel will be available at the atoll working areas to provide appropriate medical care of the DOE and con-

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The TerrestrialProgram involvesgoing onto the imlnnds without a backhoeand sampling the avaihble terrestrial food products, surface of personnel to the islandawill be by helicopterwhen the whaler relocate gear, water baxze~: and personnel. Transporting the jeep from shi~ to island and frcm l~land W island will have to be accom plishod using the helicopter. On the average, 35 surface soil samples and SO vegetation a=ples 137CS, 90s=,will be collected at each atoll, requiringanalysis for the transuraicsof approximately1,100 samples. assumptionthat there will be threewell sitesor cistern:on inhabited atolls will require the analysis of an additional 21 sampiesto determine the radionuclideconcentrationsin wa~er. A toLal of seven personnelwill be requAred to apport tltisprogram.

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15 gallonbarrels for water land and watar s~ling gear lrach additionalwater sample will ~dc!0.4K to the total.

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AERIALPHOTO AYD Pi\Biological SURVEY PROGM --”--.<- Photographic ooverage of all islands of interestin the Northern Marshsllsis requizedfor tiee P’uxse=: (1) de-iled color Xliqhtmaps of each islaxd at specificscales for usc by the radiation smey team, (2) specificdab informationabout the islmdsr amlyais to provide a variety of and [3) underlaysfor the radiation obtained using presant photographicequipment DOE by EG&G. This quipmcnt is calibrated and adjustedfor optimum perfo~nce to obtain Laagen =uitile for analysispurposesas well as the productionof photographicprints. The photomission till be flown# usinq an EC-121 Provi*cd~Y the PacificMssile Test Center based out of Kwajclein. Sotncfilm photo lab operatedby KENTRON. The fib proccssin~of ixnzmery

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The Aerial Radiation Surveys till be carried uut by means of two helicopters SH-3GtS which vill fly multlple missions from the USS %ZEELING station near the atoll or in the lagoonswhen possthle. EG&G will supplythe scientificflight crews lnd technicalsupport personnelto operateand malntafn the radiatfonmeasuring and The aerialradfationsurvey employs large array8 of NaI(Tl) slntillation detectorsmounted on a helicopterplatform. Gamma radiationdata 36 at an altitudeof 100’ on During the data reduction once each second. Position information ranging nyetanand a radaraltimeterare tape each second. The aircraft 16 flom line spacing of 200’. radiationand position data are basis am? processed la the fom of radiationcontours overlayedon aerial photograph. The radiation data are processedto provtda total gssmueray exposure rate and \ A total of nine (9] personneltill be required to support the above program for each ser~es,

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The !iorthemXarehall ZslandSunfey will be conducted in two separate p The Navy ProjectManagerfor coordination and executionof I)OD responstbflitleefor renderinglogisticssupport to this suwey Is The photographicaumey of eleven (11) atolls and - (2) islands vIU be accomplishedutilizinga Departmentof Navy EC-121 aircxaft. The platformhas been specificallyconfiguredto receive DOE-provided The aircraftwill be based out of Kwajaleinand till day for apprnxtiately21 days. cont%ngenclee for weather and aircraft down time. Iltllizingdata gathered from the foregoing photographicuuwty, an AerialRadiologicalSunrey till be conductedof the same Mtctl18 and islandsby means of two SH-3G helicopterslqbippedvith DOEhelicopters uCL1 normally operate from the USF?SWEUZELY2W,a base eupport ship which will, In addition,provide a tide range of logi8tl.C supportfor the terrestrialand Marine Frograme.

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The currentplan establishesthe need for 77 duym on~tatl~ etnd 57 days in transit,tneludfngtran8its to port fa’~logfstics xeplenisbnt and reprovlsioning or ~ome reasonabi~ combination thereof.It fa estimatedthat S56 total flight hours till be requfred deploymenttraining, transportingpersonneland lquipmentanhore, and for other administrativepurposesas requ$red. The requirementfor berthing on the USNS WHEELING while sutweyto as follows:

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RADIOLOGICAL SURVEY PLAN FOR T2iE NORTHEPJ MARSHALL ISLANDS Load and installg-r at Port No technicians from EG6G will Arrive Pearl; Ioglsticsequipment Depart Pearl, lnroute Kwajaleim; DOE survey party, equipmentcheck. sumey crew. Survey crew preparec for return to U.S. UHEELXNG departs for Guam logistics nxn. Arrive Kvajdein; embark DOE SUIXW’ muwey crew. Su=ey crev prepares for return to U.S. WEELING departs for Guam logisticsrun.

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All equipment loaded at Port HuexwS@ or Honolulu. day pack and dep=t days survey Bikini day pack and deput days sumey Wotb for Wotho (16 hrs. travel) Crew change and off load samples at %wajalein. day travel to Aflinginae (16 hrs. travel) days sumey Rowerik . day pack and depart day pack and depart for Utirfi (7 hrs. trevel)

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~dsy truvel to Xwajalein Crew clumge at Kwajalein. pad and departfor Mejit pack and depart for Jemo pack and deparkfor !ikiep pack and depart for Ujalang (2 *W travel) 1 day pack and depazt for Eneweti (26 hrs. trawl)

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Return to Kwajalein Return to Kwajalein Complete series at Enewetak DAYS OX ATOLL

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IWDIOLOGICAL SURI’EYPLAN FOR THE 1. Grants authority ~or the conduct of the Northern Marshalls Radiological Survey to the Department of Energy. 2. Assures that the Trust Territory and Marshall Islands Administrations and other appropriate agencies or organizations are aware of the responsibilities and guidelines of the survey. Department of Defense (DOD) The Department of Defense has designated the Department of the Navy as the executive agent for the coordination and execution of the responsibilities in rendering the required logistical support to the Department of Energy. Department of Energy (DOE) 1. Responsible for the conduct of the technical program to assess the radiological condition of the identified atolls 2. Prepare a final report on the radiological condition of the atolls and their environment.

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MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY DEPARTMENT OF THE …