Proposal for Second Survey of the Marshall Islands (Includes Letter from Head, Research and Development Planning, Capt., US Navy, F.G. Law to DR. C.L. Dunham Regarding a Proposal for Conducting ..

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u.’s. NAVAL RADIO LOGI ~ A LDEFENSE LABORATORY OUR FILE NUMBER THEIR FILE NUMBER SERIAL NUMBER Proposal for Second Survey of the Marshall Islands; infornation concernbe (1) &zx& copy of Proposal for Second Survey o f the Marshall Contains n0fl.S. Navy Classified Information

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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY BUREAU OF SHIPS . Director, Division of Biology and f4edicine We are enclosing t w o copies of E( proposal for conducting a second survey of Rongeliap and other atolls by the U. S. l a v a 1 the sumey ean be aceoraplhhed in February 1956, and we -11 Radiological Defense Labratory, in reply to your request of As, suggested in yaw letter, xe believe that One complication arises in attempting t o provide for the coverage requested in your data sheets, committted to REDWIHG, and can un ly assign five personnel to measurements and sample collections requested can be adequately covered on the islands t o be visited. We propose to conduct the survey from Kwajalein by PBii aircraft or equivalent according to the following schedule: Atoll Island T h e Eequired (days) Proposed dates The Laboratory is heavily Hobver, we believe that the types of. Rongelap Rongelap overnight) February 1-2 Rungerik Eniwetok I February 4 Uterik Uterik 2 (rettlain overnight) February 5-6 Likiep Lfkiep 1 February 7 The proposed dates can be adjusted within the period 02 1 February to 21 February, if necessary, t o correspond with the availability of bgf8tiC support, In addition to the f i ~ eRadiological Defense Laboratory per- ~ ~ 8 1 ,we would appreciate it if you can obtain the assign-

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merit of Dr, 3'. &pond Fosberg to the field party, We will again attempt to obtain the aer vlc es of a nativa #arahallese, Pzr, Lakjon Hatan, to act as an interpreter. We are planning, therefore, on a miniarum of seven persons f o r the survey. To avoid any obstacles such as occurred a f t e r the first survey, your assistance in obtaining clearance for bringing soil, animal and plant samples through agricultural inspection a t Hickara Field,as well as clearance from the Trust Terri h ries of t h e Pacific, will be helpful. The requirement f o r smples to be sent to the Conmisaion*s Health and Safety Laboratory will be discussed at a meeting with Dr, Eisenbud in Hew York during the early part of December, To conduct this survq, we have estimated thata total aP $&,90,00 dl1 be required f r o 5 pour office, euch funds itemised as follows: We would appreciate it if, .Lipon review of t h e proposal, you would inform us of your decision as early as possible to permit us to foraralize our final plans. CNO (1) (w/encl (11, one copy)

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PROPOSAL FOR SEXORD SURVIPY OF THE MARSHALL ISLANDS It is proposed that follow-up studies be raade ofthe extent and distribution of CASTLE: fallout contamination on Rongelap and other atolls inthe ,Harshall Croup by investigating the amount and kind of radioactive contamination in soil, water, an hals aad plant life for the following purposes: (I)To provide data upon which a decision can be based as to when the evacuated islands will be safe for occupancy by the former inhabitants (2) To provide ido mati on oc the distribution of the coat am hati on on a LaEd area which has been heavily GOAtaminated by fallout. In order to achieve the objective, it is necessary to dete-ne t h e amount, Location and type of contamlnatfon, An unusual opportunity is afforded to study, i n an area covered by vegetation, the rates of leaching by rainfall, depths of penetration in soil a d the takeup in the food chain. evaluatioc of the tize over which such contaaination renders an area uninhabitabli!, and the feasibility of decontaminating slich areas are of gma3 importance. soonel and other personnel as rec mended by the Division of Biology and Medicine, U, 3. Atomic Emrgy Comnission, for the , purpose of conducting radiological surveys and obtaining samples for analysis. A variety of samples of soil, water, cuntaminated surfaces, plants, fruits and animals w i l l be obtained from several islands of the atolls of direct interest to the Atomic Znergy Commission. Hethods of sampling will be investigated to insure that random saniplea of representative material are obtained. It is proposed that periodic tri s be made to the Harshall Radiocheaical analyses o f the sanplea Will be conducted at the U, S. Naval Radiological Defense Laboratory w i t h specified duplicate samples furnished t o the Health and Safety Laboratory of the Atomic Energy Conmclssion for analysis,

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Several shipments of samples of various PtaterFale were received fron Rongelap Atoll and proceased by the U. S. h v a l Radiological Defense Laboratory in connection with Project 4.1 of 0 eration CASTLE, and grOCedWe8 f o r the analyses of such increase in levels of radioactive materials in plant samples, with progress5ve sampling time. sanp,esB were developed. Analysis of the samples showed an The initial re-survey trip was made to the Xarshall Islands during t h e nonth of January 1955. the Naval Radiological Defense Laboratory and the Applied Fisheries Laboratory, University of Washington. The results of this survey were presented in a final report, a draft of which was submitted to t h e Division of Biology and Wedicine, This trip was conducted by The proposed schedule, together with the scope of a second survey, is presented in the letcer which acco~lpanlesthis February 19%. This trip will b e made for the purpose of making radiation surveys and collecting llJamples of plants, animals, soil and water for laboratory analysis. It is planned t o conduct the survey during early Received Ob ligat ions Req;F;;ents