Document text
Machine-read from the scan, so expect some errors. Lines that couldn’t be read are left out.
Page 1
\ ATOMIC ENEMY COMMISSION MEETSNO ON BIKINI RADIATION DATA ;.: The General Mariagerhas requested that the attached memorandum of January 26, 1967 from the Director, Division of -Biology and Medicine, be circulated for the information of Exec. Asst. to GM Asst. GM for Admin. Asst. GM for IA Asst. GM for Operations Biology and Medicine New York Operations
Page 2
.Divieion of Biology and Medicine In response to a letter from the Secretary of Interior, Stewart Udall, and a following letter from Under-Secretary Sieco, Department of State, the Division of Biology and Medicine called a meeting to consider the available information on the radiation levels on the Atoll of Bikini .and what additional information would be required to make a rational decision as to whether or not it would be safe to return the Bikini natives some 200 etrong from Kili, Majuro, Jaluit, and a few other places to their home atoll. The following persona attended the meeting: University of Washington George Milner, Trust Territory Federal Radiation Council Health & Safety Laboratory, NY00 Division of International Affairs Division of Operational Safety Division of Biology-and Medicine The meeting was -opened with a review of the environmental radiation situation of the atoll based on the data obtained in the surmnerof 1964 by ,theUniversity of Washington group, That 1964 survey was a reconnaissance operation to appraise the overall situation in the atoll. It &y U.S. Sauings Bonds Regularly on tbr Payroll Savings Plan
Page 3
axpo6ure rrtes’plus some rpot sampling of 60110, ground waters, food such. as cocouuts and arrow root, fish, birds, and.laud animals--rats, and coconut crab6 . This sampling program was not deefgned with the objective of being a basfe for making a decieion as to whether or not the natives , could properly be returned to the Island with or without restrictlous for specific’corrective measures being undertaken first; nevertheless, : It provided a good basis for discussion. The data indicated that the Island of Enyu at the SE corner of the atoll contained the least radio; activity from the standpoint of tolerable external exposure and in plant6 and edible food samples. Hotiever, it was felt that the land area of Enyu was too small to sustain a coconut economy program for ZOO+ people. More area than Enyu alone Is felt necessary. If this island were considerably larger there was every possibility that oue might eafetly return the whole group there. The largest land area Is the Island of Bikini. Unfortunately, the Island of Bikini’6 external dose rate suggests an accumulated dose 3 ft. above ground slightly higher (by less than a factor of 2) than the 500 millirads per year considered acceptable for individuals by the FRC under ordinary circumstances. The 1964 survey data indicated that certain foods were contaminated to some degree and sarte relatively free of contamination. Pandanas was relatively high but the few samples available were not appreciably higher than at Rongelap. The cuconuts, edible’ parts including meat and juice, contained tolerable levels of strontium-90 and cesium on both Bikini and Enyu Is lands ; arrow root corms would probably ‘also not be’ a problem. The one coconut crab .sample from Bikini was quite high in strontium-90 as ,are coconut crabs at Rongelap, but there see&d to be very few on the atoll. The Island of Namu which has very sparse re-growth of bushy vegetation except on the periphery of the Island has aerently become quite spontaneously a bird sanctuary with thousands of nesting birds. Shore birds at Namu and elsewhere around the atoll had quite high Zevels of cesium and could constitute a problem for person6 leaning heavily on these for their dietary intake. IIt became obvious a decision regarding the advisability of returning the natives to Bikini was not .going to be a simple one, although it was agreed that the radiation levels per se did not outrightly preclude sending the people back. A cou6ensus feeling was that it my be possible; nevertheless, there would have to be some restrictions on their activities and/or specified countermeasures taken prior to their return. Dr. Conard pointed out that he and the Medical Survey Group would be going to Rongelap the ‘end of February for a medical check-up on the people and that the Trust Territory vessel would probably be available for a-group to go to Bikini either then or about Harch 15. Mr. Hilner indicated that this indeed was a likely possibility although he would
Page 4
From this point on the discussion concerned outlining plans for a future '. survey designed for the purpose of determining.repopulatlon plans and the countermeaeures needed. A prinmry part of thts resurvey would be : a compreheneive external radiation survey. Thie involve6 a competent health physicist* to be named by the Division of Operational Safety to plan and conduct's program of external gamma readings in transects across the two main islands. A DBM contractor-Laboratoryof Radiation Ecology, the University of Washington, Seattle, would provide Ed Held who would collect some soil samples on the two main island6 to correlate with the radiation survey. More terrestrial food samples, where available, also would be taken. In order to accomplish this work on the Islands of Bikini and Enyu, it will require a team with machete6 to hack their way through the thick underbrush across the islands for each of these profiles. To ease access to the entire islands, it may be helpful to clear away along the now practically overgrown roads which run lengthwise more or less down the middle of the Islands. Dr. Conard agreed that he would at the time of his trip to Rongelap recruit some four sturdy Rongelapese to help carry out this work. Mr. Milner agreed to seek Trust Territory specialists to go along with the group, one knowledgeable in agricultural practice6 as well as the food habit6 of the Bikini people, and the other an anthropologist. He would make a real effort to entice Professor Mason of the Department of Anthropology, University of Hawaii, to-ac:ompany the ‘group. Dr. Rarley, HASL, offered any assistance he could give to the study. Dr. Gordon Dunning* and his people from DOS indicated they would as6ume the responsibility for developing a meaningful pattern of external gaurna monitoring which might even include the placing out some fixed radiation dosimetere in strategic points for the several weeks' period. It was felt that it was particularly important to'get information on that area of Bikini Island which had been occupied by the original community and which likely would be the village site again. So far as this next go-round it would appear that it will not be excessively expensive and DBM will not have to ask for additional funds to defray the costs, It may well be that the most practical approach from the standpoint of planning would be to return one group of volunteers from Kili to Enyu to relieve the over-population problem at Kili. These people could help in undertaking rehabilitation of the Island of Bikini to receive the rest. As to Bikini itself it may be necessary to plow under several inches of soil or bulldoze off the top inch of the two islands in the entire areas where the new community would be established. This is to be expected to reduce very greatly the external exposure to those living in the community on a more or women and small children. Unless they had less 24-hour basis such as the totally forgotten how to fish
Page 5
and rejected that a8 in activity to.prwlde food one would expect the "men to spend many hours a day on the water and thus reduce some of their As it stands as of January 24, 1967, Ed Held is to plan the survey in consultation with Dr. Conard and the DOS representative. Dr. Held will also make arrangements for supplies and materials needed for the 8 to 10 Branch, will aFd in searching'out logistic support channels and methods. as the man to be responsible for health @IYB~CB aspects of the study.