12 



HELFRICH AND RAY 



RESEARCH EMPHASIS 



There were two major periods of research at Enewetak 

 conducted by the University of Hawaii under contract with 

 DOE and its predecessors. During the first 20 years (1954 

 to 1974), the AEC supported independent research that 

 was broadly aimed at increasing our knowledge of this rich 

 and diverse coral atoll ecosystem. The rationale for suf)- 

 porting this broadly based research was that it was impos- 

 sible to predict what aspects of the system might be most 

 perturbed by the test activities or what the lasting effects 

 of these perturbations might be. Thus, a broad spectrum 

 of investigations was considered appropriate. In retrosp>ect 

 this was a wise choice because later events and decisions 

 depended upon information resulting from this early 

 research. Scientists from EMBL, with their acquired data 

 base, were frequently called upon for advice and assis- 

 tance, especially during the period of preparation of the 

 atoll for the return of the Enewetak people. The modest 

 cost of maintaining and op)erating the laboratory over these 

 years provided the AEC with a bargain in science because 

 the support systems were in place for AEC and defense 

 department programs. The incremental cost of supporting 

 the laboratory was, therefore, relatively small. The scien- 

 tific research was accomplished at low cost because most 

 of the participating scientists were salaried by their home 

 institutions. 



Much outstanding research was accomplished at EMBL 

 (Fig. 8). The record of accomplishment is set forth in the 

 volumes of collected reprints of scientific publications 

 which were issued in 1976 and 1979 (U. S. ERDA, 1976; 

 U. S. DOE, 1979). As knowledge of coral reef ecosystems 

 advanced, it was deemed advisable to mount a major 

 effort to understand the metabolism of an entire atoll 

 (Fig. 8). Discussions and planning conferences culminated 

 in the initiation of a major program in the summer of 

 1971 under the name SYMBIOS. This program lasted for 

 12 weeks and involved the research vessel Alpha Helix, 25 

 participating scientists, and numerous support (>ersonnel 

 under the leadership of Robert Johannes. SYMBIOS was 

 jointly sponsored by the National Science Foundation, the 

 AEC, and the Janss Foundation. Its initial objective — to 

 study the metabolism of an entire atoll — proved to be too 

 ambitious, but a thorough study of the windward reef was 

 accomplished and some major advancements were redized 

 in our knowledge of reef metabolism. As with other 

 research, this effort posed many new questions and chal- 

 lenges, and resulted in repeat visits to Enewetak by SYM- 

 BIOS scientists to further pursue work initiated in this 

 landmark study. The results of SYMBIOS are summarized 

 in Chapters 9 and 10 of this volume. 



In 1972, the DNA began a series of studies to better 

 understand cratering effects of nuclear explosions. Craters 

 formed by the nuclear explosions of earlier years were 

 analyzed by direct observation, seismic response measure- 

 ments, and dynamic experiments utilizing chemical explo- 

 sives. Scientists from EMBL were called UF>on to advise the 

 defense department, especially upon the expected impact 



of their experiments on the marine environment. Later, fol- 

 lowing a strong protest and legal action by lawyers for the 

 people of Enewetak, the dynamic experiments were can- 

 celed and only shallow coring of the atoll rim and seismic 

 studies of the reef structure were pursued to complete this 

 project. 



The second period of research began with the reorgani- 

 zation of the laboratory in 1974. Following discussions 

 with the Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, 

 Dixie Lee Ray, a visit was made to the laboratory by an 

 ad hoc advisory group, including officials and scientists 

 from the University of Hawaii, the AEC, and several 

 indep>endent consultants. Chairman Ray had expressed an 

 interest in reorganizing and upgrading the laboratory to a 

 full-time oF>eration, with research objectives more directly 

 relevant to AEC interests. The advisory group met at 

 Enewetak in February 1974 and later made brief visits to 

 Bikini and to Majuro, the capital of the Marshall Islands. 

 Participants were William O. Forster, Nathaniel Barr, and 

 Charles Osterberg of AEC Headquarters; Roger Ray of the 

 Nevada Operations Office of the AEC; Philip Helfrich of 

 the University of Hawaii prector of EMBL); William R. 

 Coops of the Research Corporation of the University of 

 Hawaii; Robert Hiatt of the University of Alaska (first 

 Director of EMBL); and Glen Fredholm, an independent 

 consultant. The advisory group: (1) articulated in some 

 detail its recommended objectives for a laboratory agenda 

 which would be responsive to AEC direction, (2) suggested 

 that the field station at Enewetak be up>graded to full-time 

 activity with a resident staff, and (3) recommended that 

 the name of the laboratory be changed to the Mid-Pacific 

 Marine Laboratory (MPML) to reflect its interest in a wider 

 geographical area, including such areas as Bikini, where 

 the AEC continued to have an active interest. 



In March 1974, following the advisory group meetings, 

 Roger Ray and Philip Helfrich returned to Majuro to meet 

 with officials of the government of the Marshall Islands and 

 with members of the Enewetak Municipal Council. The 

 latter meetings were hosted by Micronesian Legal Services 

 Corporation, counselors for the people of Enewetak. The 

 Enewetak Council expressed its desire that the laboratory 

 continue to function in the Enewetak community after the 

 return and resettlement of the atoll residents. It approved 

 the site of the Coast Guard LORAN Station as the ulti- 

 mate home of MPML. 



With the approval of reorganization and redirection of 

 goals, the laboratory entered a new and productive phase. 

 Support and encouragement of basic studies continued 

 under AEC sfxjnsorship, while mission-oriented research 

 was being planned and implemented. The major AEC- 

 oriented projects of the 1975 to 1980 period were (1) a 

 study of the circulation of the Enewetak Lagoon, (2) 

 research on the d^ amies of groundwater resources of 

 Enewetak Atoll, and (3) studies of ciguatera fish poisoning 

 at Enewetak. 



On Jan. 1, 1975, Philip Helfrich left the University of 

 Hawaii and was replaced as director of MPML by Stephen 

 V. Smith, who served in that capacity until 1977. During 



