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Director of Territorial Affairs Department of the Interior As a result of our visit to Ene\vetak and 13iicini Atolls al~cl the difficulty the Defense NTuclear Agency (DNA) is experiencing in obtaining cleanup funds, we would like to call several items to We believe it is essential to verify that the radiation closes to the returning Bikini people do inclecd fall ltithin the pl:eclictions and that they do not exceed Federal stanclarcls. l-n view of the complexity of the radiation protection measures necessary fox safe resettlement of BiIcini Atoll, we see a need for our respective offices to maintain a closer working relatiol]ship. We urge that future rehabilitation plans such as clevelopmel~t of a proposed Bikini master plan be coordinated with us in aclvance of in~pleFor solne tilme wc have been concerned that recom~mcndations on Bikini rehabilitation (that called for construction of the first housing and planting; of ilnrnecliatc foocl crops on El~eu Islancl) were not strictly follolvecl. Instead houses \verc built on 13iliini Islancl and there appears to be a prospect of more holne construction on Bikini Isl.ancl. \Vllile we clo not believe there is an immediate problem with external radiation closes cxceccling standards for people living on Eil<ini Island in the houses alrcacly constructed along the lagoon road, there are hvo otl~er considerations that can l]ave an impact on total close lctrels. I?irst, lvc are unable to predict the full e[[ect Of usc of sj.gni[icant anlounl; s near tile lagoon shore already occupiecl by existing Ilon:; ing, interior of the islanc], an area !{nown to have higher cx~cvnal radiation levels than the sllorc areas. It is conceivable that t?lc . combination of living in the islancl interior and c;atin~ foods grolvn by our earlier stuclics.
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De-pending upon the results of oLlr periodic radiatiO1l surveys at both Bikini and Encwetak, and the clctcrmination of uplal;c of radioactivity by food crops, there is a possibility that restrictiolwj may have to be placed on the use of foods such as pZi J? CIZLJiUS, brcacl - fruit, papaya and bananas Ivhich arc now being cultivated on ]3iliini Islancl. We recommend ihat any additional housing be constructed on Eneu, or if this is not feasible, that any further COn.StrUc~iOJl on Bikini Island be deferred until the radiological consequcllccs can On July 12, 1970, in our letter to Mr. Coleman, wc recommcnclcd that clean coral aggregate from a supply stored on Peter-Oboe be used for house construction on Bikini Atoll. In May 197.2, we ccln - firmed that aggregate having lo\v radioactivity levels from Peter-Oboe was being used for houses unclcr construction on .Bi.kijlj. Islancl at that time. However, during this recent visit , ‘Ted Mitcheli said the construction contractor had informed him that aggregate from Bikini Island was being used for house construction. We reaffirln the ear Iier rccommendatj.on that coral aggregate with 10IV radioactivity levels from Peter-Oboe should be used in comtr[lcting buildings at Bikini Atoll. Other sources should not be used until they have been checkecl for radioactivity. Furtl~ermore, if some hou$; es on 13il;ini Bikini Island, \ve should know ~vhich houses are involved so that additional radiation monitoring can bc (lol~e insicle these houses . Depending LIpon tile rcs Lilts of these measurements, additional recommendations may be necessary. We obscrvcc? that many 01 the rcccntly plantecl coconut trees on Bikini Island have shown little growth over this past year, ancl have turned yello~v, I hope that some agricultllral specialist can examine the condition of these trees and that steps can bc tak~Jl to improve Finally, the basis for AECIS earlier po. sitjon on lhe early return of a group to Japlan, was predicated in a large measure on early commencement of cleanup activities . We assumccl that the builclup mants letter of .July 1.8, 1974. Illview of the current funding
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advisability of an early return to Japtan. Under any circumstances we b~lieve that ret~lrn of people to Japtan prior to cleanup is an action wllicll can be considered to have a potential for environmental impact ancl sho~~lcl be discus seci in the Environmental Impact St.ate - We will be pleased to assist you in any way we can. Division of operational Safety