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Declassified record · U.S. Department of Energy

Letter to Ray, Et Al, Subject: Outline of the Staff Paper on Enewetak Cleanup

Dated
Apr 12, 1974
Document type
Correspondence
Length
3 pages
Open the original scanArchive record OSTI ID 16377299 · public domain

Document text

Machine-read from the scan, so expect some errors. Lines that couldn’t be read are left out.

Page 1

ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION THRU: General Manager OUTLINE OF THE STAFF PAPER ON ENEWETAK CLEANUP A. AEC recommendations on the radiological cleanup of weapons debris and rehabilitation of Enewetak Atoll. B. Cur rent Policy 1. The recommendations on radiological cleanup of weapons test debris are to be consistent with AEC radiological protection practices which rely on use of basic radiation protection standards and emphasize the current requirement for maintaining radiation exposures as low as 2. A chronology of actions is as follows: April 18, 1972 - Announcement that Enewetak Atoll to be turned back to the Tmst AEC conducts preliminary radiological reconnaissance of Enewetak Folloting observation of significant levels of plutonium metal on the island surface, Runit quarantined by Memo to Commission through GM from Biles on Enewetak. i .X::ii- US DOE ARCHIll% i Discus sion of Rehabilitation on

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Interagency meeting to obtain agreements on agency responsibilitiess for cleanup and rehabilita - tion of Enewetak Atoll. AEC radiological field survey of Memo to Commission thru GM from Gilbert for Carom - Enewetak Establishment of AEC Task Group on Recommendations for Cleanup and Rehabilitation of Enewetak Atoll. Memo to Chairman, cy to Commissio from Carom - Enewetak Progress. AEC Enewetak Radiological Survey Report distributed to interested Federal agency staff. 1. AEC conducted a radiological survey of Bikini Atoll in 1967 and provided guidance subsequently to the Departments of Defense and Interior for radiological cleanup and rehabilitation of that atoll. 2. The extent of AEC responsibility for long-term follow-up of the environmental radiation and health status of the Enewetak people: since the fallout on Rongelap, there has been a long -term followup on the environmental radiation and health status of the Rongelap people. This program will be expande to include followup on the Bildni people when they return this summer and it is expected that this program will be extended again to include a long-term monitoring of the environmental radiation in the atoll and the health status of the Enewetakese. These are believed to be prudent and necessary steps to take particularly in the case of Bikini and Enewetak because in th case of Bikini the predicted radiation doses were close to the standards and the conditions of retirn depend upon the people obserting certain advisory actions pertaining to diet and use of portions of the atoll for food. It is expected that similar conditions till be necessary for Enewetak.

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II. Possible Courses of Action A. Addressing the Issue Whether and under what conditions AEC should recommend that the Enewetak people return to the atoll to live. What are the practical advisory and engineering actions which will reduce the radiation dose for the people who would live on the atoll? If the Enewetak people insist on complete return and unrestricted use of the atoll, should AEC recommend extensive and massive cleanup? What mea sures should be taken to reduce the plutonium contamination on the island of Runit? 2. Options or Alternatives L. Joe Deal, OS Should AEC recommend against return of the people Should AEC recommend the return of the people without any cleanup or restrictions ? Should the people be returned after cleanup to occupy part of the atoll with practical restrictions on village sites and use of local foods. Should AEC recommend a massive cleanup to Provide unrestricted use of the atoll. . . Ditision of Operational Safety