Document text
Machine-read from the scan, so expect some errors. Lines that couldn’t be read are left out.
Page 1
Nuclear Explosives Environmental Division of Operational Safetv Attached is my intralaboratorv trip report for the !March-April 1974 trip to Utirik, Rongelap and Bikini Atolls. This reDort covers mv activities for the trip, but since vat Creenho_u.se,Joe Ash, and I were working together much of the time, the”report also covers many of their activities in the field. The” 90Fe and Sr analysis for soil, coconut crabs, fish, and Pandanus samples collected at Bikini Atoll in Nay 1972 will be completed by the end of April. I will forward these data to Ollie as soon as I have checked and tabulated the data. These data should complete the information necessary to finish the report on the May 1972 Bikini Radiological Resurvey.
Page 2
Nelson - Laboratory of Radiation Ecolofiy above personnel conducted an environmental sampling pro~ram in conjunction vritn the rcdical team nakinc the annual AEC-sponsored medical survev in the ‘!arshall Islands. The 17-member medical also were present.. Objective: The purnose of the environmental samplinc was: (1) to familiarize Nat Greenhouse and Joe Ash with various aspects and problems of workinq and samplin~ in an atoll cnvi.ronment and (2) to conduct a limited samplin.q pro~ran desi~ned to Provide data to correlate with the body burden data from the medical sty :it?s. The environmental samplinq propr~m was limited, since this pro~ram will not be funded until fiscal year 1974-75. 27 March ~~!edllesdav)- Vic Nelson took the 0800 ?lAC flight from Honolulu to— Kwajalein. In Kwajalein he was met by John Stewart and Bill Strtenan (AEC) and Harry Ilauck (Global Assoc.). Later, he-met Nat Greenhouse and Joe Ash who had flown to-Kwaj. on Ilonday. 28 l?arch (Th[lrsdav) - Packed and loaded gear on LCU. 29 March (Fridav) - 1700. LCU departed Kwaj for Utirik (200 miles). 30 ?larch (Sat.) - Enroute to Utirik. At 1200 we were NW of Likiep Atoll. 1100 - Landed at village on Utirik Island. The LCU grounded about 30 yards out from the beach, due to the shallowness of the water. It WaS thus neccssarv to ferrv men and eauiprnent back and forth in a rubber raft supplied by John Philips of the LCU crew. Afternoon - LCU unloaded, after which ??elson, Greenhouse, and Ash made a tour of the island, during which some survey meter readings were taken (< l~R/~lr) and a few rat traps were set. from breadfr~]it. nandanus and coconut trees. Surface soil samples (1” deep x 3.5” diameter) were alsc collected around t!lebase of each samvlcd tree. Ash filtered wa~er from a well in the villaRe. l~clson also collected two Koatfish
Page 3
and on reef at the north end of LJtirik Isl~nd. Four yellowtail mullet were taken in the Ianoon. lTelson also obtained sediment samples at the north end of tile islanl and at t!~e boat Iandinq. Both samnl.es were from the la~oon in 3-4 feet of writer. Nelson also collected almae at the boat Iandinz. A soil sarlvle was taken from the taro patch behind Ilcnos’ house in the village. 1200 - Off Ron:erik Atoll. ?.on~elap Atoll cannot be seen. 1800 - Entered south pass into Rongelap la~oon. Old weather tower gone from 1900 - Landed at Rongelap Island. an(l explained the exav.inatlons and studies to I]e conducted. The people asked money as compensation for travel to ?!ajuro or Eheye for medical exams. p~! - Ash be~an filtering water from a cistern and a well. Greenhouse and Nelson, helped by Bolden (son of Yik), collected fruit and leaves from Pandan{’s, breadfruit and coconut trees both at the east end of the main village and in the center of the village. Soil samples were also taken around each of the six trees. A copra sample was obtained for us bv Bob Harrison, the Peace Corps volunteer on Rongelap, The copra ~Jas made from coconuts collected at the east end of the village. Surface soil samnles were collected just off the trail leading from the church to the ocean as follows: {il. Beach sand, lagoon. #2. Just behind cleared area of village under a Pandanus tree. {!3. 200 yards into the coconut area. #4. At the first marked bend in the trail at about the center of the #5. Seaward edge of the coconut grove about 100 yards inland from the #6. Beach sand, ocean side. of the church to ocean trail, about 20 vards inland from the ocean. A soil sample was also taken. Greenhouse and Ash also made survey meter readings in the village area
Page 4
father, Alex. The others collecte(i Eoqtfish and convict sur~eon. Survey meter readin~s were taken from Jab~.Jonto Rongelap Village on the way back ( 3 BR/hr 0830 - Kelson, Greenhouse and Kosang (X-ray tech., Trust Terrirotv) went to Eniaetok Island on the Eoston Whaler. T!le 10-mile trip took 25 minutes dn calm on Eniaetok we collected P~.nda~us and coconut fruit and leaves from trees.— just nor~h of the buildin~ with the bell on the front door. Breadfruit leaves were ta!:enby house on the trail to the oce,an near the north end of the island. samples were taken around each tree. Survey meter readings were taken in the taken in 110 feet of water off the north end of the island. - Lefc Eniaetok I. for Rusch 1. Survey meter readin~s were made on 100!)- Nelson, Greenhouse and J@we left Rongelap in the Boston Whaler for Kabelle 1. on the ?;E corner of the atoll. We arrived at Kahelle at 1130, after a rough trip. ye collected coconut fronds and ntl,tsfrom a tree next ‘0 ‘he ‘ater catchr.ent. Pandanus and Scaevola leaves ~rere collected in the center of the island. Surface soil samples were taken around all trees. An 8“ (2” increments) soil profile was taken near the P<~.ndznustree. Jobwe shot two rails (Koak). We cau~ht three cocon~t crabs and two Tridacna clams. Survey meter readings A sediment sample was taken in an undisturbed area of the lagoon.in about 8 feet 1430 - Arri\’ed Cabelle I. On Gabelle we obtainecl a pig for a sample, and also Rearranged samples in freezers. Two coconut crabs were collected for us people caught about 30 coconut crabs for a feast held that night.
Page 5
AM - Nelson obtained a sediment sample from the la~oon off the boat landin~ at Ronflelap 1. I!e also caught an octopus near the LCU. A pig and chicken were also obtained for samples. Packed Eear in preparation for trip to Bikini Atoll. 1000 - Ash began filtering water fron the cistern behind the first ho{~se by the boat landing. 100-1230 - Nelson and Ash took surface soil samples and y-survey read~ngs around the work camp area on the south en(?of the Islar.d. p>f_ LCU T,’cntto Enyu T. to met C-54 chartered from Kwaj to pick up Hat Greenhouse,who had ap?endicitis,and the majority of the nedical team who had been scheduled to leave the next day anyway. Ash and Nelson made a few y readinys alonq the lagoon sic?e of the runway while tb.eplane was being loaded. LCU then AM- Nelson and .4sh took surface soil samples and gamma readin~s along lagoon road from the north end of the island to the.heat landings. Samples and readings were taken ten paces inland from the road about every 0.2 mile. Soil samples numbered as follows: #1. North end of island to 2nd Base line north. #4. Center EL to 1st Base line south. We also took 5 la~oon-to-ocean transects, making y readings and collecting samples and coconut fronds. These transects are as follows: 2nd Base line south. 1st Base line north For transects {11, 2 and 3 the soil and fronds were collected at the 2nd tree south of the road, while for transects ;~4and !;5the samples were taken at the Zr.d tree north of the road.
Page 6
PM - Nelson and Ash took surface soil samples, coconut fronds and y readin[:s alonq coconut rows 24 and 34 from the center base line to the ?nd base line south. Samples were taken at everv 15tll coconut tree, starting with the tree south of the center base line or 1st BLS. These samples were composite for four areas as The row numbers are the numbers given to the original rows of coconut trees and are those used in reports of the 1969-70 and 1972 surveys. A row of coconut trees has since been planted between the original rows of trees. Nelson and Ash began a ~amma survey of the houses. Nelson had a backhoe operator dig three soil pits in the following areas: Ten yards south of the center base line and 30 yards inland from the first hause south of the center base line. This pit is about 8 feet from a Pacdanus tree from which fruit aml leaves were collected. This pit had=;-;t~re of dark organic soil and coral gravel to a depth of about 100 cm, and coral sand below 100 cm. Ten yarcls south of the center base line on Row 24. This pit had a mixture of black or8anic soil and coral gravel, from 0-30 cm, black organic soil and coral sand from 30-75 cm, and coral sand below 75 cm. Five yards north of 1st Base line south on Row 24. This pit had fine lighter shade of coral sand from 50-75 cm and whiye coral sand below Soil samples were ta!cen by side wall samplin~ from these three soil pits at the following intervals, in cm, 0-2.5, 2.5-5, 5-10, 10-15, 15-25, 25-35, 35-50, 50-75, 75-loo, low. These intervals varied in some cases, Sue to differences in soil horizons between the pits.
Page 7
PM - Xelson and Ash collected fruit and leaves from a Pandanus and a coconut tree near the 3rd base line north. ?’psser~cb,~~dealeaves were also collected. Soil samples were taken at the base of the trees. Nelson and Ash continued y-survey readings inside and around houses. All houses are conpleted and are relatively cool inside. The outbuildings (outhouses, water catch~ents and cook areas) are completed on about a third of the houses. fronds in the following areas: I?e also purchased a coconut crab taken on Bikini I. by one of the workers. Collected papaya sample from area behind house #2 and obtained some yarcs and a chicken from one of the workers. 1530 - LCU departed Eikini 1. 15 April (Monday) - Enroute to Kwaj. 16 April (Tuesday) - 1230. LCU arrived at Kwaj. 1500 - Nelson and Ash left Kwaj for Hono via MAC. 2130 (Hono time) - Arrived Hickam. We had some difficulty in getting plant and pig samples through Department of Agriculture clue to lack of specifics on 0930 - Nelson left Jlonolulu for Seattle. 1800 (Pacific Daylight Time) - Arrived Seattle. 1900 - Arrived at University of I?ashington. Laboratory of Radiation l?colo~y
Page 8
Breadfruit - leaves 1 April 1974 Utirik I. Jakaj house II fruit It Surface soil II II fruit II !1 Land of Henos II Village area II North end island
Page 9
Tvne Dare Island Location Surface soil transect East end of village Two houses west PCV East end village Church to ocean trail
Page 12
Tvpe Date Island Location Surface soil 13 April 1974 Bikini Row 24,Center BL to It II II Row 34, Center BL to Papaya 14 April II House {12 Chicken It II Worlc camp Rats 13 April II II Yam April II .-
Page 13
Tvne n!ltl? Island Location \!ater 10 April 1974 Bikini Cistern - Boat landing ROW 24 - Center EL to
Page 14
Surface soil 11 April 1974 Bikini Soil proffle #1 12 April 1974 Soil profile [}2 II 81 Row 34, Center BL to Row 24, Center BL to Row 34, Center BL to