What Structures Exist At Johnston Atoll Apart From Runway?

Question

Wondered if runway channeled rainfall to storage cistern,

is there a resident caretaker staff, and can visitors freely

use existing moorage bouys? Has nuclear testing ruined

the atoll for water sports?

Answer 1

Howdy.  I worked at Johnston Atoll for a year, and was actually in charge of all Water Sports as Director of the Marina there.

Water for domestic use was created with large diesel-power desalinization plants, same as on non-nuclear warships.  The Olympic size swimming pool was considered the emergency back up water supply if more than one of the 3 desalination machines went down.  

About 1/3 of the island was off limits to all without protective suits due to plutonium contamination.  2 nuclear warheads broke up on the launch pad there during nuclear atmospheric testing, and the debri has never been completely recovered or cleaned up.

The main facility on the island when I was there was the chemical-weapon disposal plant.  But the project is now complete.  Only a small caretaker staff remains.  The atoll is a Federal Wildlife Reserve and a Fish & Wildlife staff remains.  There are also researchers there periodically.

When I was there all residents on the island had to have federal security clearances.  Private boats were allowed to dock at the Marina only in emergencies.

We had various water recreation activities including scuba diving, wind-surfing, sea kayaking and even (when it was calm enough) water skiing.  However, since the main program on the island has shut down, almost all recreation activities have also shut down.  There was really top notch scuba there, too!

Water is a very good 'insulator' for radiation, so we were told.  Any metal items we found on the bottom were to be left untouched and their locations reported to the Island command.  If they felt the item was possibly a part of a warhead or rocket they would investigate.

I believe the island's facilities are administered by the Department of Energy and the Defense Nuclear Agency.  You would have to have serious permissions granted in order to be there outside of an emergency or an approved research project.  There is no provision for civilian use or tourism.

I have seen photos that showed the dormitory housing being torn down a couple years back.  There was also an apartment building for senior staff, military barracks, mess hall, gym, library, softball diamond, pitch-n-putt golf course, and the main administration builfing.  Plus the chemical-weapon destruction facility and the bunkers for weapon storage.