Donald C. Gestiehr -2- development of the soil cleanup criteria, i.e., the 4O and’ 400 pCi/g, was based upon consideration of all transuranium elements in soil, not just Pu-239, 240, and using a conservative application of Federal Standards. Unfortunately, the consideration of all of these long-lived alpha emitters was not stressed in the AEC Task Group's report and the report usec the term "plutonium" rather than "transuranium elements.” This point was cleared up in discussions with DNA staff. The radiological criteria recommended for planning purposes for evaluation of land use options were based on a conservative apnilication of Federal standards. These have not changed. Also, criteria recormended by AEC for soil cleanup were not changed by EPA's issuance of proposed guidelines for transuranium elements in soil. It is exmected that cleanup of soil according to AEC criteria will meet the EPA guidelines. Further interpretation of the application of the 49 to 4OO pCi/g criteria (i.e., within this range), which had been left by the Task Groun for a later determination, was done when requested by DNA. However, there was no change in the basic criteria. The only change has been DOE's recommendation that certain islands in the north- east of the Atoll that were to be planted with coconut, not be planted. This recommendation was based upon very recent experience at Bikini Atoll. Health considerations, and the associated assessments of radiological conditions of islands, the applicaticn of recommended criteria, and the development of recommendations, must take precedence over the people's vreferences in decisions on land use. While we support the full par- ticipation of the Snewetak people and their advisors in decisionmaking, it would be a mistake to give the inpression that they will decide where they will live and where their food will be zrown. If instead of a food level of cooperation, we must assume little or no adnerence to restrictions, the planning assumptions inherent in the EIS and the agreement that the people may be returned safely are voided. The Enewetak Atoll master plan contains the people's preferences rerarding land use, but the actual use will depend on the degree of soil cleanup actually achieved on various islands and on a statement of permissible land usage issued by DCE in the final certification process. This certification will be based