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ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION NEVADA OPERATIONS OFFICE LAS VEGAS, NEVADA 8911.4 Micronesia Legal Services Corp. Saipan, Mariana Islands 96950 One of the items of unfinished business which has concerned us at Enewetak is an understanding of the grountiwatersystem. During our radiological survey last year, time and logistic support constraints made it impracticable to include an adequate groundwater study. We had, therefore, expected to incorporate such a study in the cleanup and rehabilitation programs. I am sure that you are aware also that the need for groundwater information is noted several times in Holmes & Narver’s Master Plan for Resettlement. It now appears that we have a good opportunity to acquire the necessary information earlier than we had expected, by taking advantage of the drilling and support capability which has been established for the EXPOE program. I have met with the EXPOE people and with DNA program people, and the Atomic Energy Commission has formally requested their cooperation and assistance in making our groundwater program possible. In response to the AEC request, DNA has authorized EXPOE to incorporate in its field work the small additional effort necessary to establish our test wells. Tentatively we plan for about 20 sampling locations on perhaps 10 islands, with samples to be taken at intervals over at least one full year cycle and perhaps a somewhat more limited program extending well beyond that year. The analytical program is still being defined, but will involve both Lawrence Livermore Laboratory and the University of Hawaii. The wells being small (about 3“ diameter), and with only research quantities of water being pumped, the environmental impact of the sampling program will be insignificant. By establishing the wells now with people and equipment already in place, we seek to reduce costs, save time and avoid such impact as there might be from a separate and independent program later in the rehabilitation cycle. The purpose of this letter is to inform you of this new effort and ,; to make it very clear that it does not represent an extension of \’ the EXPOE program, per se. I trust that you will agree that it is ‘:”+;,fh
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logical and in the best interests of the people of Enewetak for us to proceed at this time. The first actual drilling for the groundwater study should occur during the last few days of January or the first of February. I expect to be at Majuro on about the sixth of’ February and would be pleased to further describe the program to Chips at that time. Meanwhile, should you have any questions about our progress, please let me know. Roger Ray, Assistant Manager Hamlet J. Barry, III, Dr. Philip Helfrich, EMBL, Kaneohe, HI