UNITED STATES ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION NEVADA OPERATIONS OFFICE P.O. BOX 14100 LAS VEGAS, NEVADA 89114 40355 16 ae /PA So NOV 3 Maj Gen. E. B. Giller, AGMMA, HQ M. B. Biles, Dir., DOS, HQ J. R. Totter, Dir., DBM, HQ 1970 COLLECTION V / REPOSITORY Mv#2 tt D CE, “ FOLDER REQUEST FOR POLICY DIRECTION - BIKINI PROGRAM ACTIVITIES This requests direction on NVOO responsibility for long-term radiological monitoring at Bikini and a definition of program funding responsibility. a. Background From the time that nuclear weapons tests were last conducted at Bikini Atoll (1958), the radiological monitoring efforts in this area have been carried out largely through DBM auspices, with objectives which were oriented primarily toward biologic research. The major exception was the Bikini Clean-up Program of Soring/ Summer 1969, in which NVOO assisted DOD in the conduct ofa radiological survey and clean-up program, with responsibility for determining (a) that DOD radiological health and safety plans for the clean-up were approved by the AEC prior to field operations; and (b) that radiological health and safety plans for the scrap removal project were met at completion of the project. This responsibility included radiological advice and assistance during the operation, but did not include certification of the islands as to their habitability by humans. In both the 1969 clean-up operation and the 1970 follow-on survey, AEC contractors were used both in program definition and field sampling activities. This included the U. S. Public Health Service (sampling of plant foods and water, sampling and monitoring of terrestrial and airborne radiation levels) and University of Washington (radiological sampling of animal food, soil and water). ‘These contractor forces were provided from the capabilities being maintained to support an AEC readiness-to-test response in the Pacific, and were funded from the Readiness Program. ye }