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During the past approximately'oncyear, NV has become aware of, and I h2v~ bezcx increasinglyconcernedabol& certain conditions and activities.at Eniretok Atoll. My concern stew5 from three It has appeared probable that Eniwetok which h2s not yet had a Bikini-styleradiologicalcle2nui,would soon be 2 candidate for rehabilitationand return to the Harsh&lese. Since mid-April 1972, this probabilityhas become reality, with a public commitmentby the United States to return Eniwetok to the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands by the end of 1973. (See Encl. 1). It has been known, due to the nature of the testing which was donducted at Eniwetok, that cleanup and rehabilitation when it did occur would be significantlymore difficult and more 'costlythan bed been similar activitiesat Bikini, It was also suspectedthat increased environment21sensitivity and .political2nd public visibilityvorzldbe complicating factors in an Enivetok rehsbilitation. Defense 2nd other public and private zgencies which could which could subject their participantsto unnecessaryand The following is a chronologyof recent 1X actions yertzkning to Progr2m personnel in a preliminary site =- selection visit to Enixetok. The Air Force
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Heapons Laboratorywas furnished a copy of the report-ofNV's radiologicalsurvey, which radiologicalsafety and control. At this time the Island of Runit (Yvonne)was identified as a significantand potentiallyserious radInstituteof Oceanographyin discussionsof aquacultureexperimentswhich he proposed to condxt on Runit Island. NV relxesentatives expressed concern because of the kno-a widespreai contaminationof Runit end strongly recor?endcd the adoption of stringentradiologicalsurveilkx and controls includinga bio-assay program for RV representativestogether with the Director; DOS, Hq, made a liaison and planning visit to the Trust Territory in connectionwith a planned May '72 survey of Bikini. Tie W representative: took this opportunityto visit Eniuetok for a firsthand view OF the operationalimplications of a preliminarysurvey of kivetok. .Atthe conclusionof this visit, NV recoxxqendedinforma: and later formally and in writing that the Air Force adopt more stringentand conprehensive radiologicalcontrol of Eniuetok Atoll than had been observed during this visit. The AEC survey team having completed its survey of Bikini Atoll devoted approximatelyone week to a preliminarysurvey of Eniwetok. Although this was'not separatelyfunded, it was done with Trust Territory officials,kiwetok traditional native leaders and others on a visit t;oEnixeto? Two~menbersof the XV survey team were rkained at Eniveto'&to provide a radiologicalescort for this visit.
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Nay 1972 Enroute returningfrom the Eniwetok visit, NV certain disquietingresults of the survey. . which had just been completed. Preliminary laboratoryanalysis had confirmed the -presence on Runit Island of pieces of either plutonium metal or of another metal heavily contaminated with plutonium. A recommendationwas therefore originatedon Kwajalein addressed to the host. be quarantineduntil appropriateradiological * control actions could be taken. For the most part the above actions have been taken without at leas specific Beadqaartersdirection although they have been discussed from time to time with the staff. However, at the present time it seems appropriateto seek policy directionand to recommend certain Washington level actions. Nest fundamentally,there appears to be no question that a cleanup and rehabilitationof Euiwetok will be . undertaken in the reasonablynear future and that the ARC will have an essential and vital role in the nlannins and execution of that 15th a date certain establishedfor the return of Rniwetokto the Trust Territory, the time available for planning a cleanup hasnow In addition, a far more comprehensi~~.~,s_~~veyow_._____ .-. g cleanup) will occur after the transfer to the Trust TerritoryAtiinistration. However, it would seem highly desirableto have the nature, scope and details of the cleanup agreed before the transfer rather than to hsve to negotiate them later. Included in these agreements should be a common understanding of cleanup standardsand criteria.
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Our recent experienceswith Eniuetok heve demonstratedan urgent need for agency-levelcoordinationof future United States actions pertaining to that Atoll. The visit of the Marshnllese in Nay headed up by the Deputy High Commissioner,the District Adztinistrator of the Marshall Islands District,MicronesianCongressmanAtaji Dales and a Councilman from Ujelang (the present hone of the Eniwctokese), the District Attorney of the Marshall Islands and several attorneys uho are in a lawyer-clientrelationshipto the Enixetok leaders . .. and people. The thrust of the visit, as evidcnced.bya close-out meeting on Kay 20th tissthe urgency of an early return, the determination on the part of the Narshalleseto determinetheir o&m destiny dismay at the continuinguse of their lands for a variety of apparent! unrelated and uncoordinatedpurposes and, specificallyregarding the lawyers, their clear intentionto document in detail current and future United States actions for later us.ein behalf of #&r _ has been brought to the attentionof the General Counsel, Hq).. Because there was no designatedspokesmanfor U, S. Government interests at the May 20th meeting and because there were issues attended at the request of the Deputy High Co;n;r.issioneraccented a. to convey to appropriatenational level authoritiesthe need for central U. S. Governmentcoordinationof all future actions pertainingto Eniwetok. b. to convey to the same authoritiesthe desire and the need Territory Administrationfor current and act-urateinformation regardingUnited States actions and intentions. (In this connection,it is noted that there is in the tape recorded record of the meeting an acl-aouledgement by the Deputy High Carl;)'_Issionerthat until March 1972 the Trust TerritoryAdministrationwas not aware of the PACE Program, although quite substantialefforts on that. pr.ogr&mhad then been underway at Eniwetok for soze months.) I believe that the conditionsset forth in t&is mcr!orandx! 'G single manager for all future United States actions pertaining
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to Eliwcto%. I reco!zzendthat the Commissionseek to have such a designationnsde at the earliestpossible time in order that t .timly funding, planning, coordinationand executionrzayreplace Highlights (Trust Territory publication) Assistant General Manager f'oF-5.;<-1'k Assistant General Kanager for Assistant General Manager for .