Survey of Rongelap and Utirik Atolls

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JOINT TASK FORCE SEVEN San Francisco, California SUBJECT: Survey of Rongelap and Utirik Atolls San Fra cisco, California To: C mander in Chief, Pacific Navy No. 128, C/O Flee+ Post Office San Francisco, California a. Letter, CJTF SEVEN t o CuTCP& dated 9 April 1954, subject: "Return of Inhabitants of Rongelap and Utirik to their Home Atolls". b, Message, CINCPIIC t o CJTF SEAEN, 1400422 April 1954. 2, I n accordance with the provisions of references &and b, a survey party visited Rongelap and 'Jtirik Atolls during t h e period 2l-23 must be taken prior to the return of the native population t o these atolls, from which they were evacuated early i n March 1954 as a consequence of the initial detonation of the CASTLE test series. The camposition of the survey party b ind5cated i n Inclosure 1, A narrative account of tho acti vi ties of the survey prtg, including observations concerning the two "he mission of t h e surrey party ma to determine what action 3. I n gt'wr'l, the conclusions of the survey prty confirmed the planning factors outlined i n reference a , may be returnad to their homes shortly after th ch st shot of the CZXLE series, On t h e other hand, t h e natives of Rongolzp Atoll can not be returned to their homes for approx bit ely one year. 1 May 1955 i s rcccmmended as the pl - wing date for the return to Rongelap. The n2.tivt.s of Rongelep should be examinl.d periodi.ccally t o monitor their recovery from The natives of Uti rik Atoll

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SUBJECT: Survey of Rongelap and Uti rik Atolls' the effects of the radiation received, and Rongclap Atall should be visited quarterly by RadSafe personnel t o monitor the decay of tho The survey party submits t h e following specific recommendations: (1) Several days after the last CfiSTLE shot, Uti rik Atoll whether o r not add it i mal cont3qmin?.tion his occurred. If no increase in external radiation and food and water cantamination levels is noted, t h e return of the natives may be undertaken without delay. The contamination levels now present atthe two atolls are indicated i n Research analysis of tho foods and water collected is being dinate the activities of interested agencies i n the return of the Utirik ( 3 ) CIXCPLCFLT should designate and make available a s h i p have with kh-a, bhe fo.llchkqg Stems should be noved 5 3 Utirik. items should be assenbled by t h e CINCPIICFLT project officer in coordlnation with the l o c a l Kwajalein representative of TWACIS, and the funds f o r necessary purchases should be provided by JW SEVEN: Used lumber, already made available by ComNavSta Kwa j ale in, Flour, salt and other staple items of food supplies adequate f o r me month. Limited amounts of nails, window glass, metal rooflnr and medical supplies as determincd & CINCPACFLT project officer in coordinati.cn with Kwajelein rep rescntative of TERPACIS. 10,ocO gellons of fresh water to flush and refill Uti rik cisterns. Approximately 400 chickens, 120 pigs c?nd small numbers of other animals as determined by CINCPiLCFLT project officer, in coordinc?tion with TER PAC IS mp

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Survey of Rongelap and Uti rik Atolls resentative, Same of these mia - sare already being obtained by the TERPXIS representatives a t Kwa j ale in, (4) The survey prty was advised that on a number of occasions LSTs have entered the Uti rik lzgoon. is recomended, ifthe CINCPACFLT project officer cmcurs after investigation of the lagoon chmel a, The usa of this type ship (5) No construction or repair work by U.S. personnel i s re= quired, since little deterioration of the buildings on Uti rik has occurred since the evacuation, (6) No decontamination work is required, except for the flushing and cleaning of cisterns recononended above. (1) The natives of Rongelap Atoll s h d d be relocated on an island of the Kwajalein Atoll for the period of approximstely MS.y are BIKEJ Island has been selected by TE;RpACIS represenLTtives a t Kwajalein concurs in this seleCti.cn. cord with t h e reconmenchtions of t h e Project Officer of Project 4.1, who will shortly conclude the active medical sur veil lmc e of the Rage lap naThe relocation near &VSTA Kwajdleh i s in ac- (2) As inthe case of the Uti rik natives, CINCPACFLT should designate a project officer to coordinate the activities of interested agencies during the temporary re low tion of Rcngelxp nztives and during their ul tim te return t o their banes, (3) The temporary nature of this r do cation should be given wide publicity thrmghout the Trust Territories and U.S. news media, after t h e movement &s been completed. ( 4 ) The AEC contractor a t the pacific Proving Grounds (Hohss and Narver, Inc.) should prefabricate a s necsssary .ad supervise t h e construction of d l wood dwellings, a combimtion school and church, ?- dispenrary, =and other buildings 2nd c is tens for the 82 Rongelap Wtives t o be relocated temporarily in the Xwajalein Atoll. Materials for this construction will be provided from Zniwetok m d delivered to the site of the sented in Inclosure 4. Details of the constmction required ?.re pre-

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(5) Conanon labor for this construction should be provided Holmes -mdt h e natives of Rongelap themselves, =.s much as possible. Narver personnel WW- perform the more difficult tasks. should be paid wages by JTF SEVEN ata wage soale deter,mined by the representatives of TERPiiCIS. Native labor (6) Water and staple food supplies for one month should be provided initially, as inthe wse of the Uti rik natives covered above. Likewise, chickens a d animals should be provided i n nunbers determined by representatives of TE;RP;iCIS Ftnd tho CINCPIXFLT project officer. addition, the Rmgelsp natives must be provided minimum food supplies and other essentials on a continuing basis, since they will Mve no inc m from sale of copra and since BIW Island provides meagcr quantities of natural. foods, (7) Just prior to the the the Rongelnp nrrtives am moved from Kknjalein Is lv ld to BL?W Islmd,aship should be sent t o Rongelap Island t o pick up the clothing, books and other belongings (including two 30-foot sloops) of t h e n?.tives. Decontamination of Lhese items should be performod a t Kwajalein under supervision of local or JTF SEVEN RadSafe survays of the atolls should be conducted by qualified personnel operating out of NavSta Kwajalein. fice would periodic..llly send groups of qualified personnel t o Kwajalein for this purpose, Periodic mediczl surveys of the natives and PadSafe Dr. Bugher, DIM, LEC, stated that his of- (9) AEC RadSafe prs on nel resident in th s Pacific Proving Grounds, i n conjunction with representatives of DBY, AEC, should m2ke periodic inspections of the is ln nds of Rongelsp Atoll toes certain the rate of decay of the contamination. KWAJALEIN . Reports of these inspections ehould (10) A representative of CINCPXFLT, probably C@QLiVST&WiiJ, should inonitor the general welfare of the Rongelsp natives during their temporary stay at Kaj ale in Atoll. the is l mds of Rongclap Atoll nnd then it ives in their temporzry homes a t Km j de in Atoll t o determine whcn these nativcs m y be returned to their hornes and what additional action must be Qken prior to their movcmmt form Kmjalein htoll, The sane agencies should be represented on this Inter survey party as on this group. struct ion and supplies necessary a t Rongelap Island will be provided by (11) Inthe spring of 1955, anothar survey party should visit Funds required for this movement and the con-

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5.All members of the survey pzrty agree on the reconmend?tions CDR E, Po CBONKITEj Project Officer of Project 4.1 was not a member of the survey party, but he w m consulted several tines. views were considered by the survey party. All d.tn from the testing of soil, water and food items will not be available and evaluated for 6 . Finally, the survey prty emphasizes the in port ace of pbIt is possible thcttl ici zing the temporclry nature of the relocation, the natives will be content t o remriin a t Kwajalein Atoll after they live the reay mr, under subsidy of the U,S, Government. xlministr8tor of TI;JLWI~CISa t Majuro, state data conferencc a t Kmjaleh en 27 April 1954 that it isthe policy of TXW.lCIS t o discourage concent ration of Marshallese nztives ata fsw coLmercicd.ly fnvorsble locitions and t o discour?ge too rapid acquisition of wealth by small grmps of natives. This policy confirms t h e recmend:.tion made above that the subsidy provided the natives while a t Kwajalein be held tothe essen1, Camposition of Colonel, U,S, Army Survey ?arty. Senior Member 2. Narrative Account of kc ti vi ties of Survey of Rongelap and Utirik