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Human Affairs Research Centers
PO) Box 5395
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Joseph Maher
Office of Administrator
for Environment and Safety
M.S. E-201
Germantown,
Maryland
20767
Dear Dr. Maher:
409808
PYOO NF ATst Street
Seattle, Washington 48105
Telephone (206) $25-31 4%
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1976
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REPOSITORY
HIARCSEA
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COLLECTION Marsha fl Tslands
BOX No.
5G &5
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Chewe tak
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Issues pertaining to the current relocation and rehabilitation
program of the Marshall Islands has been brought to my attention
by Dr. John Hébert at HARC.
He suggested that I respond to you
concerning my thoughts about potential problems concerning ERDA's
current and continued involvement in the rehabilitation effort.
As I understand it, three federal agencies (i.e., United States
Energy Research and Development Administration, United States
Department of Defense, and the United States Department of the
Interior) are participating in the rehabilitation, specifically
the rehabilitation of Enewetak, and in general the adjoining islands
and atolls in the Marshall Island chain.
ERDA's main responsibilities
consist of providing assistance and advice to Defense and Interior
concerning
safety levels of radioactive soil and finding a disposal
solution for contamination soil.
Again,
I understand that steps
have been taken by ERDA to communicate risks of contamination to
Marshall
Islanders.
Latter efforts have been assessed as being
largely unsatisfactory.
The processes and consequences of evacuation and removal of persons
from their homelands have concerned me for some time.
Invariably,
the culture and lifestyle of the relocatees are dramatically altered.
Home and work patterns must be adjusted to accommodate existing lifestyles in the new community.
Often value conflicts emerge between
residents and relocatees adding to the complications.
Issues of
this kind are complex, and frankly, not well understood by social
scientists.
The status of the Marshall Islanders appears to fit
this pattern and I fully expect adjustment problems to occur.
Rehabilitation of Enewetak, Bikini, Japtan and some of the other
atolls in the Marshall Island chain is unique since there are risks
associated with the move.
This risk introduces new considerations to
the issue.
Fortunately,
for social science, there are some examples
available that could provide some insight.
One possibility is to
consider why people would want to return to or rebuild in a high risk
environment.
Some examples of this follow: