Johnston Atoll is a remote U.S. territory located about 825 miles southwest of Honolulu. After the U.S. Air Force closed the atoll in 2004, the airstrip was permanently shut down, making access possible only by sea.

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In 2008, R/V Searcher served as the research vessel supporting the U.S. Air Force's environmental monitoring mission. Working under contract with CH2M HILL, Searcher transported scientists and equipment to Johnston Atoll so they could conduct EPA-required groundwater and biological monitoring surveys, as well as inspect the island's seawalls and landfill caps.

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During the expedition, CH2M HILL scientists collected groundwater, biological, and environmental samples while Searcher supported offshore operations, including fish and marine sediment collection. To preserve sample integrity, all materials were refrigerated immediately after collection and transported back to Oʻahu aboard Searcher before being shipped to mainland laboratories for analysis.