Completion Report - Enewetak Proving Ground Facilities - Volume III Construction (Greenhouse Operation)

Page 2

CONTRACT NO. AT -(29-1)- 507 PROVING GROUND FACILITIES HOLMES &. NARVER, INC. LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA

Page 3

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY 6.3 Objectives and Cost Considerations ......••••••...••••••• 6-l4 6.6 Construction of Base Facilities and Scientific July 1949 to January 1950 ... ........................ 6-39 January 1950 to July 1950 •...........•••.....••••••• 6-43 July 1950 to January 1951. .......................... 6-58 January 1951 to July 1951 ••••••.••..•......•••.••••. 6-76 6.7 Military Structures Program ...........•......•••••••••.. 6-112 Air Force Structures .•••.•......••...•••....••.•••.. 6-135 A Memorandum of Agreement for Participation in Construction Program, Eniwetok Atoll D Summary of Engineering Change Orders Issued at Jobsite E Drawing Record of Military Structures

Page 4

F Minutes of Los Alamos Meetings of G Test Reports of Materials, Military Structures H Inspection Report, Army Structures I Minutes of Meeting of August 2, 1950 J Letter Authorizing Further Foundation

Page 5

ENlWETOK PROVING GROUND FACILITIES Section 2 - Preliminary Phase Section 3 - Contract History VOLUME II - ENGINEERING VOLUME III - CONSTRUCTION Section 9 - Labor Relations Section 10 - Health and Safety Section 15 - Reports and Special Studies Section 16 - Service Operations Section 17 - Support of Scientific Operations Section 18 - Roll-up, Maintenance and Salvage VOLUME VI - RECONNAISSANCE REPORT (2)

Page 7

The scope of the construction work performed by Holmes & Narver, Inc. in connection with the development of the Enivetok Proving Ground during the period between January 1, 1949 and July 1, 1951, involved a total cost of approximately $25,000,000. It embraced the construction of extensive base facilities, scientific structures, and special facilities needed in connection with scientific structures and special military structures used for test purposes. This construction was carried out at fifteen locations throughout Eniwetok Atoll which were separated by from one to twenty-two miles of water. The approach to the establis~nt of a construction plan for this Preject contemplated primarily the problems peculiar. to construction in overseas areas. This type of construction usually (for reasons which appear herein after) involves a very high labor cost with consequent necessity, on the part of those charged with construction responsibility, for attention to economies which may be realized by prefabrication and careful orgapization, special attention to scheduling, and particular attention to factors necessar,y to maintain high morale during the oonstruction period. It should be noted in connection with the last point that during this overseas project (in contrast to ordinary overseas work) the obligation of the contractor did not cease at the end of the working d~, but rather that attention was required twenty-four hours of each day to the health, morale, and general welfare of the overseas employees. The conventional approach to an overseas project, moreover, vas, in the case of this project, modified b,y the following special conditions: 1. No basic facilities were available to support an immediate move of a substantial number of men to carry out construction activi2. No local labor market existed, nor a local supply of materials. 3. At the outset, a radioactivity hazard existed which had to be removed before substantial numbers of people could be introduced. 4. The separation of various units of work by vater created a transportation handicap requiring the establishment of a water transportation system for both supplies and men. 5. stringent security regulations existed for this Project. In the light of the noted conditions which affect overseas construction in general, and those special conditions particular~ applicable to the Proving Ground development, plans for construction established predetermined phases to permit a gradual build-up of on-site personnel. This build-up vas related to the special problems existing at the site and was also in phase with the planned availability of working drawings, and the

Page 8

of funds with which to initiate prOCU1"6Jlelri. In spite of the apparently long period of time allowed for construction when the initial planiing was done in the latter part of 1948, the schedule established for the construction of ~.-base facilities then contemplated was relatively tight, in keeping with a philosophy of limiting overseas manpower to a min:lmum. This was done in order to leave a maximum amount of time for the construction of scientific structures and stations since the extent of this portion of tbe '~opment program was Expansion of the required base facilities would of necessity affect planning, as would the expansion of requirements for scientific structures and stations. However, if the plan were sufficiently flexible, the nonavailability of funds in the early phases of construction, the increases in required base faoili ties, and the construction effort which would be related to actual test structures might cause temporary set-backs, but would not cause irreparable delays in the over-all completion in time for test operations in the early part of 1951. Developments through 1949 and 1950 indicate that the plan was sufficiently flexible. The expansion of activities from the arrival of the first small group to initiate a beachhead to the peak which came late in 1950 was continuously progressive. Factors Wich retarded progress were quiokly noted and remedial efforts The details and progress of the oonstructon activities carried out under Job 3 of Contract .It- (29-1)-507 are reported herein.a:f.'ter under three main headings: Beachhead Establishment, Construction of Base Facilities and Scientific Structures, and Construction for the Military Structures Program. Each of the sections is intended to portray- the interrelatioDship of all of the factors affecting the work; the significant decisions made in connection with oonstruction and the reasons for those decisions; and, lastl1, details of the soope of the construction effort, together with relevant statistics.

Page 9

The period of time designated Phase I of operations at the site, covering approximately six moriths from January to June 1949, vas devoted to the establishment of a beachhead by engineering and construction forces. It ~ll be recalled that the Reconnaissance Report, in view of the time scale for the entire Project as contemplated at the beginning of 1949, had established a construction plan, chosen in the interest of economy, which avoided building a construction camp. In keeping ~th this basic premise, Phase I operations were designed to enable relatively few people to move to the Atoll without imposing an undue burden on the garrison forces and to rehabilitate, in only barest essentials, existing structures and facilities on Enivetok Island to the extent necessary to support the group required for initiating construction of the Parry Island base facilities. As noted during the reconnaissance survey, the garrison, in view of the limitations of personnel, supplies, equipment, and housing, vas in a position to support a group of not more than 30 visitors. Within such limitations, therefore, personnel chosen to carry out Phase I operations at the Proving Ground vere selected on the basis of versatility and necessity for the capabilities they possessed. The objectives established for the group vere broadly: 1. To inaugurate working relations ~th the military garrison at Eniwetok and with its support and command center at Kwajalein. 2. To test in actual operation the arrangements made for supply and logistic support required for civilian construction operations at the site. 3. To complete such field surveys, topography, and hydrography as required for detailed planning and designing being done concurrently at the Engineering Division design office in Los 4, To conduct further tests on existing submarine cables to determine the rate of deterioration of these expensive and vital items and to establish the utility of each cable for 5. To carry out clean-up and blading operations in an effort to reduce the intensity level of radioactivity at the detonation sites employed during Operation Sandstone. It vas necessary that the intensity level be reduced to a point vhich would permit extensive operations over long periods of time ~thout haz ard to personnel. 6. To rehabilitate, to the barest minimum extent, facilities for housing and feeding construction forces and for varehousing

Page 10

and servicing materials and equipment required by anticipated construction operations to be carried out in the later phases of the program. It had been arranged in early meetings at Cincpac that the garrison forces at Eniwetok would support Phase I operations by the following 1. Providing subsistence and housing space. 2. Stevedoring and off-loading of the small quantities of supplies which would be required by H & N group during the Phase I period. 3. Operating intra-island small boats. 4. Operating liaison type planes within the Atoll. 5. Providing radio communication with Hawaii and the Mainland. 6. Providing auxiliary services including mail handling, PI facilities, movies, and the like. On the basis of these arrangements the first contigent of H & N forces left Los Angeles on February 2, 1949. Included in the group, which totaled 9, were the Acting Resident Manager, a Construction Foreman, Chief of Surveys, Instrumentman, Chief Electrical Engineer, an Electrician, a Carpenter, a Heavy Equipment Mechanic, and a Heavy Equipment Operator. The group was accompanied b.Y two Radiological Safety Monitors from the Los Alamos Scientific Laborator.y. Upon arrival at Kwaja1ein, meetings were arranged with the Commanding Officer, and such items as the cashing of Holme. & Narver checks, the ownership of POL supplies stored at Eniwetok, and the ownership of miscellaneous equipment, material, and supplies at Eniwetok were discussed. The high plane of cooperation was immediately evident and a satisfactory solution of all details was accomplished. In view of the nonexistence of records covering POL supplies and material, equipment, and other supplies located at Eniwetok, the assumption was made that all of this property should be utilized by the AEC contractor in the furtherence of the program. At Eniwetok, in keeping with the earlier undertaking at Cincpac, arrangements were made by the garrison to house the H & N group in a modified two-story quonset structure which proved to be habitable and adequate for the purpose with only minor repairs. Subsistence was also provided; but, because Eniwetok Atoll was not a direct military supply line, the food served there was not as tasty as might be desired. The burden placed upon the garrison by

Page 11

even the EmaIl initial beachhead was reflected in the preparation of the food as well as in the service and conditions of utensils and table. Ho~ever, no conflict with the military establishment on this score was evident and excellent working relations between the garrison personnel and the "pioneer" group were soon established. Both groups attempted cooperatively to find the solution of problems as they arose. Thus, for example, the recruitment of camp attendants was expedited and the arrival of two men in this classification with the second H & N contingent on Feb. 14, 1949, helped the mess-barracks problem materially. During the off-loading substantially all other activities at the Jobsite Reports of the inability of the garrison to support even the limited number of H & N personnel were forwarded to the Home Office in order that the build-up of the garrison forces to planned levels might be expedited through Atomic Energy Commission channels; but, although augmentation of the garrison did take place during Phase I operations, it was evident that an all-out effort would have to be made to establish, at an early date, facilities for the subsistence and housing of H & N forces. SUPPLY LINE AND LOGISTIC SUPPORT Shipments to Eniwetok during this period were, normally, by ~ay of Kwajalein. That is, materials destined for Eniwetok Atoll were transshipped at Kwajalein to 1ST's operating on approximately a weekly schedule. As noted above, the supply line to Eniwetok was a spur of a main line which originated at San Francisco and passed through Oahu and Kwajalein. Plans had been made for direct freight service to Eniwetok which would eliminate the transshipment at Kwajalein; however, it was not until April 15, 1949, that the USS GRAFFIAS arrived at Eniwetok with the first shipment of H & N materials and supplies, together with routine supplies for the garrison. Arrangements had also been made for air freight shipments to Eniwetok, but, in this line of supply as well, transshipment at Kwajalein was necessary and a shuttle plane was operated between Kwajalein and Eniwetok on a somewhat haphazard schedule. Thus, it was not unusual that air freight shipments and mail accumulated at Kwajalein for considerable periods of time during the early part of Phase I. The schedule of this plane service was ultimately improved through efforts of the AEC, and semi-weekly service was achieved. Refrigerator ship service to Eniwetok was initiated during the Phase I period. The first shipment of refrigerated cargo arrived at Eniwetok on May 19, 1949; thereafter, a regular monthly schedule was Upon arrival at the site, arrangements were immediately made by survey personnel to expedite the flow of survey data to Los Angeles.

Page 12

In order to permit site planning to move ahead on schedule, data for contour maps and the location of high-tide lines on Parry, Runit, Aomon, and Engebi were first obtained. Survey personnel commuted fro~ the base camp at Eniwetok Island to each of the other locations by M-boat or L-5 aircraft as available. The time consumed in moving personnel and equipment around the Atoll in these early days and the shortage of personnel contributed to the difficulty of the task. However, within two weeks from the date of arrival at Eniwetok, the initial increment of BUrvey information needed for design by the Engineering Division at Los Angeles was mailed. The schedule established for the accomplishment of the surveJSrequired during Phase I operations was ambitious and was based upon the use of a number of survey crews. Unfortunately, problems connected with housing and messing additional personnel, which are discussed elsewhere in this chapter, prevented the accomplishment of all of the work scheduled for the period. However, by dint of long hours in the field, the major portions of the data required for design during this period were delivered All usable existing structures on the Atoll were located. The hydrography for the Rojoa Causeway and for all piers planned for the Atoll was accomplished. Reconnaissance was carried out for the triangulation which was to be performed during later phases of the program. This reconnaissance included the location of monuments established by the BOWDITCH and Sandstone surveys. In addition to these activities, the survey group carried out various odds and ends of work such as staking the sites of minor construction required for the interim camp at Eniwetok, the location of the POL facilities on Eniwetok, preliminary staking for initial construction on airstrips, and other items of high priority work. One of the more unusual assignments involved crosssectioning the crater areas around the Sandstone detonation points. The details of the procedures used and of the data obtained appear elsewhere in this report and in the fi18s of the operation. Cable testing similar to that carried out during the reconnaissance Burvey in 1948 was performed during February and March of 1949, and the usuable condition of the existing underwater cables and cable stored at Parry was firmly established by the data obtained. Details of the methods employed and the resulting data are given elsewhere in this report, but at this point it might be noted that the procedure involved established the copper conductivity and insulation resistance of …