Dr. John C. Bugher Question 4(b). Answer. -2- Nay 20, 195) "How much land was in any way damaged? What was the extent and kind of damage?" There was no land damaged outside the test area, fallout that occurred did not damage the land i Tr" we e sense that it could- not be reinhabited or could not“be used for agricultural pursuits, Except for possibly the uninhabited northern islands of Rongelap Atoll, all of the islands could be re-entered safely in the near future by personnel who had not previously experienced significant radiation exposures. Since the indigenous inhabitants have already received some radiation exposure, it has been deemed wise not to allow them to return,until the activity has decayed to an insignificant level. {The amount of activity in the soil does not constitute a fiazard to the growth and edibility of plant life, Question l(c). ‘hat was the extent of sea area, including lagoons ~~ and surrounding open sea, contaminated or otherwise affected? What were the effects? How lasting are they? Will any areas require cecontamination? Is there any way of doing this?" Answer. The amount of activity in the Bikini and Eniwetok lagoons would make it wiwise to eat fish from these waters without monitoring first, at least for the present. The activity in the other lagoons and in the open sea is so siall that no deleterious effects may be expected to the fish themselves nor will the edibility of the fish be impaired. No sea areas need decontamination. Certain land areas might be covered with an inactive material such as dirt, but this procedure is not recommended nor is it really necessary since the activity on practically all of the islands will be at a very low level in a few months, [Footnote continued from previous page/ anount of activity in the body will remain constant due to equilibrium conditions with intake eenr of activity. Also to be considered is the fact that the calculated beta dose to the thyroid was about 200-500 reps. pOE ARCHIVES 37