14 



HELFRICH AND RAY 



Smith's tenure the three research projects mentioned 

 above dominated the activities of the laboratory. A study 

 of the oceanography of Enewetak Lagoon was prompted 

 because — despite intensive studies of various facets of 

 Enewetak's geology, physiography, biota, ecosystem dy- 

 namics, radiation contamination, etc. — only cursory infor- 

 mation existed on the circulation patterns of the lagoon 

 (Chapter 5 of this volume). This comprehensive study 

 directed by Smith resulted in information on the physical 

 and chemical dynamics of the entire lagoon. The topic of 

 the second investigation was the dynamics of groundwater 

 resources of Enewetak, a study that developed information 

 vital to the returning Enewetak people who required 

 uncontaminated water for drinking and agriculture. This 

 investigation was directed by Robert W. Buddemeier 

 (Chapter 4 of this volume). Ciguatera fish poisoning, the 

 topic of the third study, had plagued the people of the 

 Marshall Islands for many years, waxing and waning in an 

 inexplicable manner. The return of the people and their 

 dependency on fish for sustenance placed a special 

 urgency on the results of this study that was directed by 

 John E. Randall (Chapter 7 of this volume). 



During 1975, the AEC was reorganized, and the func- 

 tions pertinent to MPML were assigned to the newly 

 formed Energy Research and Development Administration 

 (ERDA). In turn, ERDA gave way to the U. S. DOE in 

 1977. 



Resident managers were established at MPML on a 

 year-round basis in 1975, and these individuals became 

 integrated into the Enewetak community. This was an 

 important aspect of MPML's operations because these 

 scientists represented a benign, if not benevolent, element 

 among the numerous government-sp>onsored activities 

 related to the radiological survey, cleanup operations, and 

 various medical and agricultural programs. The individuals 

 who served as the resident laboratory managers were all 

 exemplary in their dedication, and there were numerous 

 examples of extraordinary service. From 1975 to 1977 

 the resident laboratory managers were Philip and Janet 

 Lamberson. 



In June 1977, Ernst S. Reese assumed directorship of 

 MPML, replacing Smith. During Reese's tenure (1977 to 

 1979), the research on lagoon oceanography, groundwater 

 dynamics, ciguatera, and other aspects of atoll research 

 continued. Planning and implementation of the move to the 

 former Coast Guard LORAN Station took place. In addi- 

 tion to continuing to fully support the research mission of 

 MPML, the laboratory personnel cooperated in many ways 

 with the DNA. A highlight of this coojseration was the pro- 

 duction of an audio-slide presentation to acquaint the mili- 

 tary personnel of the DNA with the natural history of a 

 coral atoll and to describe the recreational opportunities 

 offered by the atoll environment. There was also a caution- 

 ary note about the dangers of the atoll environment rang- 

 ing from severe sunburn to the presence of sharks. The 

 audio-slide presentation contained an important message 

 about conservation of the atoll environment as well: 

 observe and enjoy but do not destroy. 



Following the cleanup, support services were with- 

 drawn, and the laboratory was placed on a "stand alone" 

 status, having to provide for all of its own life support and 

 laboratory operations needs, with resupply from infrequent 

 supply ships and light aircraft. During this challenging 

 period, Reese was ably assisted by Victor R. Johnson and 

 Maridell Foster and by several capable resident laboratory 

 managers: Paul M. Allen, Michael V. DeGruy, and Gary 

 Long (1977 to 1979). In 1979, Patrick L. Colin and John 

 T. Harrison (1979 to 1983) took over the operation of the 

 laboratory. Throughout this period the laboratory contin- 

 ued to accommodate a few visiting scientists as transporta- 

 tion and logistics could be arranged. 



In 1979, with the cleanup of Enewetak nearing comple- 

 tion and the return of the atoll's residents imminent, a 

 workshop was held at the Asilomar Conference Center, 

 Monterey, Calif., to consider the future role of the labora- 

 tory and its relationship to the other DOE scientific pro- 

 grams in the Marshall Islands. The DOE headquarters 

 sponsor at that time was the Division of Biomedical and 

 Environmental Research under the direction of Helen M. 

 McCammon. The fXDE policy enunciated at this time sig- 

 naled the ultimate phase down of the laboratory over the 

 following 2 to 3 years and the determination that signifi- 

 cant effort should he devoted to synthesizing the research 

 product of the laboratory's entire history into a publishable 

 work. The present volumes are the result. It was decided 

 also that, to the extent that the laboratory continued active 

 research programs during the phase down years, these 

 should not be confined to the marine environment. This 

 latter decision was reflected in yet another name change: 

 MPML became MPRL, the Mid-Pacific Research Labora- 

 tory. In 1980, soon after the Asilomar meeting, Helfrich 

 again assumed the directorship of MPRL. 



For most of the time between 1977 and 1980, a large, 

 joint military force was at Enewetak — with a peak popula- 

 tion of about 1000 drawn from the Army, the Navy, the 

 Air Force, civilian government agencies, predominately 

 DOE and civilian contractors. Research at MPRL continued 

 through this period and in some ways the laboratory 

 thrived upon the ready availability of logistic support, espe- 

 cially frequent and dependable airlifts, and a generally har- 

 monious relationship with the joint cleanup command. In 

 fact, through the cleanup years, the resident manager of 

 the MPRL facility met daily with the Joint Task Group 

 Commander and his staff to discuss mutual interferences 

 and mutual supp)ort. Many interesting aspects of the 

 cleanup effort required an intimate knowledge of the atoll 

 system, and the laboratory was often called up)on for con- 

 sultation and advice. Selection of a suitable site for lagoon 

 disposal of debris, protection and exploitation of food 

 resources, and the preservation of scientifically valuable 

 artifacts were but a few examples. On one occasion a 

 major earth-moving eftort was planned for an island which 

 had unexpectedly become a nesting ground for a very 

 large flock of migratory birds. The laboratory's data base 

 facilitated an immediate assessment of the length of time 

 these birds would require protection, and it was possible to 



