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United States l’lt~~ai-t~e~t of the, Director of Territorial Affairs Interagency ?Ieetingon Bikini, Department of the Fred M. Zeder, Director of Territorial Affairs - Chairman John E. deYoung, Senior Staff Assistant, OTA Roger Ray, USERDA, Nevada Stephen Greenleigh, Assistant General Counsel, E2aA Earl P. Gilmore, Holnes & Narver, Anaheim, California Oscar DeBrum, DISTAD, Marshall Islands Peter T. Coleman, Deputy High Commissioner, TTPI Earl L. Eagles, OLAG, DNA Dr. Robert A. Conard, Brookhaven Natioml Laboratory Charles Schmitz, OMSN Charlotte Mauldin, OTA Congressman Carmen Bigler (Congress of Micronesia) A. Introduction: The group was welcomed by Mr. Zeder who briefly
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1. to recap,the ERDA June Radiological Survey results 2. to discuss reactions of the people of Bikini; and 3. to discuss future actions with respect to the Bikini B. Recap of ERDA June Radiological Survey Conclusions and 1. Tommy McCraw, ERDA, presented a recap of ERDA’s conclusions and recommendations based on the June Radiological Summary of the Survey, Conclusions and Recommendations attached as Appendix “A.” Dr. Robert A. Conard presented a review of personnel monitorin~ dorieon Bikini Islzad to dzt~. Full text of representing the people of Bikinis raised a number of (a) Inquiry on how many times the gamma spectrographic analysis utilizing the lead counter had been done. Reply: Dr. Conard indicated this analysis had been carried out once to date on the small group of people living on Bikini Island, in April 1974. (b) Inquiry as to whether radiation levels of people were expected to go up after return to Bikini as had been. the case for the Rongelapese after their return to EsQY: Dr. Conard indicated that although there may be a slight increase in body burdens after return to Bikini Island this would not be comparable to case of the Rongelapese. The Rongelapese had intake of locally grown foods at once after return whereas the residents of Bikini Island would not be eating local foods since they would not be available.
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(c) ERDA’s preliminary report had a table indicating that men and women would be spending 20 to 15% of time, respectively, in the interior of the island. Question was raised whether this time frame had been predicated on current period or situation when the COCOnUt groves . would be in full production. m: Nat Greenhouse of Brookhaven National Laboratory stated that these time estimates were based on projections of when coconut trees.would be fully bearing. (d) Mr. Allen inquired as to relationship between thyroid abnormalities in Rongelapese individuals and possible beta-gamma residual radiation on Rongelap Island. E!wY: Dr. Conard stated that it was believed that all thyroid cases were result of fallout experienced by the individual. The Rongelapese exposed to fallout received an internal dose to the thyroid gland from radioactive isotopes of iodine. (e) Mr. Allen indicated that there were indications of poison fish in the Bikini Lagoon although this was not necessarily related to the atomic testing program. He wondered though, what affect any restriction on local fish might have on the diet component of the people of Bikini on their return. “ EsJYY: Mr. Roger Ray noted that the University of Hawaii was conducting research on the general problem of fish poisoning. Presently, short of testing each fish with a “mongoose” tester, scientists have not come up with Distad DeBrum pointed out that it is usually the Red Snapper which falls into the dangerous category. Pattern is found throughout the Marshalls. Problem though is that there is no consistent pattern, i.e., at one time of year, Red Snapper may be poisonous, not another time, etc. 3. Prospective Aerial Survey Mr. Joe Deal, ERDA, presented a brief synopsis of legacies of nuclear testing in the Pacific. The problems from Pacific weap”onstesting, the fallout and fallout pattern, and the need for an aerial radiological survey were described. Summary in chart form is appended as Appendix “C.” Mr. George Allen, ~SC, raised a number of questions
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(a) Funding required; time frame required; time of start of survey if funds were available. EFZY: Mr. Deal, ERDA, indicated that an overalL survey, that is of all the testing areas, presumably, exclusive of Enewetak Atoll which has been aerially surveyed, would involve: cost: $2-1/2 to $3 million (ERDA can fund timeframe: 60 days in Pacific -- 4-8 months for starting time: ERDA ready to start at once but requires necessary logistic does not have any funds programmed for logistic support. In reply to a question from Mr. Allen, he ~tated that DOD has yet to make a decision on whether It would seek funds for such a project. He pointed out that DOD was not asked about logisti~ support until last spring. DOD is prepared to provide support at this time on a reimbursable basis. (b) Mr. Allen, MLSC, then asked if DOD was saying that it did not wish to accept responsibility for support. If so, who is going to take responsibility.to get money for the support phase of the proposed.survey? w: Capt. Elster referred to the original Executive arrangement on Bikini, i.e.., Radiological Survey - AEC DOD had accomplished its part of the cleanup. The question of which agency should support the logistic requirements might have to be made by OMB. Mr. Deal noted.that ERDA has discussed the matter with Mr. Allen commented that he had read the latest “round robin” of letters between Department of the Interior and Department’of Defense on the matter, but no resolution appeared from this correspondence.
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Capt. Elster pointed out that DOD would approach the matter on a humanitarian basis if it could be shown that there was radiation danger on Bikini Island. On such a basis, DOD could act at once but ERDA conclusions a’rethat this danger does not exist. DOTA Zeder commented on the long-range strategic interests for the knowledge which would come from such an aerial survey, as well as immediate need for Bikini Atoll. He stated that DOI gives the matter high priority. Report by Distad DeBrum on Meeting with People on Kili Island Distad DeBrum requested Mr. Earl Gilmore, Holmes and Narver, who serves as consultant to the Distad for Bikini program, to report on the Bikini Master Plan. Mr. Gilmore explained why the “Master Plan” for Bikini did not come into being until close to 4 years after start of construction. The Master Plan utilized both Bikini Island and Eneu Island, although 63 of the original complement of 78 houses were planned for Bikini Island. He noted that Eneu Island could take care of all the population (some 700) at the present time, but long-range needs wouid require use of other islands. . only 78 houses ’are funded in the present proposal although the Master Plan notes that, if the desire of the people of Bikini would be met some 150 houses were.projected. This would provide Distad DeBrum then briefly described the visit to Kili the first week of September. He explained to the people that the new survey had recommended use of houses on Bikini Island under specific restrictions, i.e., no constipationof locally grown food from the Island, also no more houses to be built on Bikini In his estimation, the people of Kili now are split”into two groups. A group made up of individuals who were born on Bikini (perhaps 150-200) want to go back before December. A younger group have expressed a desire to stay on Kili in view of the new circumstances. This raises the question of whether the new houses for this grotipcould be built on Kili Island. The older group, who wish co return, ask that the Gover~ent assure them that radiation factors on Bikini Island will not cause ill health. If it is held that Bikini Island is not habitable, then this older group wishes to resettle on Eneu Island. Distad DeBrum pointed out that there was mixed feelings because of the restric- .tions which had been recommended.
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Mr. George,Allen said that he had talked to the Magistrate at xiii via shortwave radio on Monday, September 15, and received the impression that only two of the elders on the Council now are insistent about going back within the next several months. liedid not know, however, how many family members would be involved with these two leaders. He.thought that there might be a somewhat less pressing problem about early return than had l been indicated at the Kili meeting. He noted, though, that the shortwave radio contact was, at best, tentative and felt that the only way to get a reliable reading is to go back to Kili Island for additional meetings. It was his belief that regardless of the current restrictions and future patterns of life in Bikini, some 150 younger people mightwish to remain on Kili Island and perhaps another group might wish to live on Jaluit Island. OTHER POINTS TWISED Ex Gratia Payment Mr. Allen commented on matters with respect to the Bikini Ex Cratfa payment. He thinks it essential that the rightful claimants be identified. A formula for distribution should be determined now and this should come from the Bikini Council. He commented that numbers may be inflated by the desire to participate in Ex Gratia payment and stated that he was planning to attempt to identify Mr. Gilmore (Holmes and Narver), referred to the census done in 1974 for the &ster Plan which identified 426 people on Kili and Bikini Islands, with another 362 individuals who claimed Bikini affiliation scattered elsewhere in the Marshalls. This gives a planning figure of 784. Unawareness of people of Bikini of Earlier AEC Reports Mr. Allen stated that MLSC (MarshalIs) is translating the 1967 MC report on Bikini Atoll as well as a summary on Rongelap in order that the people of Bikini can have access to first-hand information. He felt that more original information should be W. Zeder closed the meeting by assuring the principal participants that DOI would do everything it could to cooperate with other agencie$ involved and ,wou~~ try to resolve presshg WtterS tbt now face the Bikini program.
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As a result of the rcccnt meeting at Kili by Trust Territory, ERDA and Microncsian Legal Service officials concerning restrictions on rehabilitation of Bikini it is apparent that there arc several points of misunderstanding in the minds of the Bikini people concerning statements radiological sa~cty of Bi’kini. Before reviewing the obtained on LhC people living at Bikini I would like I have made regarding the to clarify some of the confusion. First, at the tiiieof the Ad,Hoc Committee meeting, the “visit of the Trust Territory and AEC officials to Kili in 1968 and my visit to the island in 1969, the statements made about the radiological safety of Bikini were justified based on the survey data compiled at that time. Subsequent analyses of personnel monitoring data on the people living at Bikini showed Idw levels of XGdicactivity in the people confirming the origir.alconclusions. In all sincerity, I disclosed this as additior.alassurance to the people living there. Based on these findings I would not hesitate to live in one..: of the houses on Bikini. T am ,. about me at the Kili meeting. people of Bikini and in no way sad about the statcme,ntsa few people ~de I have great friendship and respect for the and at any time have I tried to mislead them. From the be~inning thcrewueccrtain restrictions concerning “rehabilitation of Bikini. It is only ve~y rcccntly that radiological s~rvey data has reads I it necessary to impose further restrictions. I would like .toclear up another point of confusion regarding “medical” examinations. We have never done medical examinati )ns on the Bikini people for possible radiation effects. The reason is that the radiation levels are so low that such ex~minations are not necessary. For this reason it is wrong for anyone to accuse us of using the people living at Bikini to study radiation
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effects. Radiation there is too.sliglltfor medical studies to bc of interest since no radiation effects would likely be detectable. The urine collection - and measurements of the body for radioactivity are not medical procedures. and are done by technicians. These measurements are important since they form the basis for reassurance of the people living on Bikini regarding their radiological safety. Though we are not doing medical examinations “if our doctors are at Bikini, as in the past, we will al~~aysbe glad to see, “treatand prescribe for ,anypeople that are sick - but only at the request of the individual or the health aide. Unless requested by the people,it is not even necessary for our doctors to go to Bikini. In’1969jpersonnel monitori~~gprocedures were begun on a group of 30 ,> worbnen at a work camp on Eneu Island. By 1972 about 3 Bikini families -, had moved back (about 50) and also about 25-30 workers and agriculturists. \;g Radiological monitoring at Bikini has been carri”edout annually since 1969. The size of the population has not changed much ‘since 1973. In order to assess the radiological hazard the following p~rsonnel monitoring procedures have been carried out: 1. Rdiochcmical analyses on urine samples: (individual 2L+l~ourand pooled samples). These analyses require complicated chemical proccchres and are done for us by the ERDA Health and Safety Laboratory in New York City. Such radiochemical analyses have also been carried out on water and local food products. .. 2. Direct mcasurcmcnt of radiatio; in the people by gamma spectrographic anhlysis: To do this tons of radiation-free lead bricks were shipped to the Marshalls and a shielded counting facility set up in one of our airconditioncd trtiilersand transported to Bikini on our vessel (LCU-Liktanur).
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TIICrncasurcmcntof body radiation by such anilysis is very sensitive and rc- , quircs complex electronic cquipincntand personnel hi~hly trained in electronics “ 3. p~rsonnclexposure to ganna radiation:,Cam.- levels on the island were derived from data furnished by other radiological survey groups. ‘IImresults of the personnel monitoring since 1969 are presented in the accompanying people living at Bikini The data on urine analyses are presented on Table I. Xote that average pCi/liter for Eikini urine compared with Rongelap was for Sr 2.5/3.8 and for CS 638/3360. Based on standard guide lines (International Congress of Radiation Protection - ICRP) these isotopes have been well below maximum permissible levels. Reassuring also is the virtual absence of plutonim in the samples. Levels for internally absorbed 137Cs as measured by spectrographic analyses are presented in Table 2. Note the average values for males and females on below the maximum permissible levels. filegraphs in figures 1 that body burden (extrapolated) for Sr and Cs in the Bikini well below the peak values noted in the Ron&’clappeople. The Rongelap people reached a peak of 6-11% of the maximum 90sr permissible level (for general populations) and of about 22% for 137CS. These low values for internally absorbed radionuclides is in accord with the fact that the people on Bikini have been subsisting mainly on imported foods. The contribution of gamma radiation to the people on Bikini is somewhat greater than on Rongelap.
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4 Table 3 mmpres the total,bolle mrrow dose (the critical organ for somatic radiation …
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