eeee -3- it was tentatively planned that when the U. S. no longer had a4 requirement for the atoll the area would be returned to the rightful owners. Due to insuf- ficient natural resources on the Rongerik Atoll, the natives (then numbering 184) were moved to Kwajalein Atoll in March 1948 and housed in tents temporarily while a decision was made for a permanent location. to Kili Island in November 1948, where they now reside. The group moved It should be noted that Kili Island lacks a lagoon and that marine life as a source of food is | not available in sufficient amount to supply the needs of the population. The forced change in diet has contributed markedly to their inability to adapt to Kili Island. Thus the strong desire on the part of many to return to their native Bikini Atoll remains alive. There arenow approximately 500 people on Kili Island and when a poll was taken early in 1967, 146 of the group indicated a desire to return to Bikini Atoll. In the ten years which elapsed from the last test series (1958) at Bikini to the present, the atoll has been essentially uninhabited. Dense vegetation has spread over the larger islands, and native marine and ter- restrial animals have flourished in man's absence. During the period from 1946 to 1958 the land mass and water in the lagoon at Bikini Atoll became contaminated from both atmospheric and underwater tests. Brief radiological surveys were made on several occasions to follow the decay of radioactivity on the atoll; however, an intensive, rather complete radiological survey was made during August 1964. The decision was made at that time that the health and safety of people returning permanently to the area might be endangered. A detailed resurvey was made during April- May 1967 as a result of a request by The Honorable Stewart L. Udall, Secretary of the Interior. eerie . -_ — p38