On Rongelap, the white ash formed a layer 1%/2 inches thick on the ground; it fell into the drinking water tanks and the children played in the radioactive powder. Development Association in 1977. The people feel that the ERDA program is in need of vast changes.” While the CUtirik and Rongelap strate that low levels of radiation were not harmful to people. In 1968. ten vears after the Marshalls nuclear test program had en- populations were experiencing the ded. President Lyndon Johnson effects of direct fallout exposure. the Enewetak people the trust fund was 310.000 and for the Bikinians it was Despite these and other “warnings. Energy Research and Development Association's Dr. Cunard stated a short ume earlier: 1969, an acc radiological survey stated. ““There’s virtually no radiation left and we can tind no discernible effect on plant or animallife (on ‘Our medical team has evaluated the radiation exposure in the people who have oeen working on Bikini the degan siowly retuming to their atoll to help in the massive rehabilitation program, which included the repiant- been taken to reduce these levels... . The internal adsorption of radioactive matemais will be... only slight from terrestnal food plant sources. Therefore. we co nor enpect to see anylil effects in tne Bikint people or in their oftsonng trom the smail amounts of radiaiion to which they will be exposed Bikinb. In the eariy 1970s the Bikinians +300.000. both vrelding semi-annual ing of more than 30.000 coconut imterest payments ‘approximately trees and manyother local crops. as wellas construction of a newvillage. 315 per capita for the Bikinians). By the mid-1960s the people were demanding a retum to thetr home tsraunds. Because the Bikinians and Enewetakese Degan to receive extensive international publicity tor their plight. the pressure increased on the United States to return them to Bikini and Enewetak. In addition. shalls). promised the 540 Bikini people a peoples of Bikini and Enewetak permanent return to their home: the were attempting to survive in their radiation had dropped below the U.S.-imposed exile on tiny, in- danger level. according to the Atomic Energy Commission. In hospitable islands. Because living conditions on both Kili and Ujelang deteriorated further during the late 1950s and early 1960s. the United States instituted small trust funds in an effort to alleviate some of the problems. For the restrict completely the use of randanus. breadfruit and coconut crats (a dietary mainstay in the Mar- About 100 Bikintans were on the atoll when the Lawrence Livermore Laboratory conducted a radiation assessment in June [97S. The study. "Dose Assessment at Bikini Atoll.” not released until mid-1977. stated clearly: “All living patterns involvying Bikini Island exceed federal the Atomic Energy Commission. (radiation) guidelines for 30-vear which had been increasingly population doses.’ A preliminary enticized for advocating that there report issued by Energy Research were “permissible levels” of radia- and Development Association in tion exposure. was eager to demon- August 1975 pointed to the need to past two vears. There is same low level radiation remaining on the 1s- land of Bikint and measures nave Caught in the middle 9t ‘hese conflicting statements. in late [97S the Bikinians filed a federal law suit against the U.S. government ue- manding a complete scientine survey ot Bikini to determine if the tsland was indeed safe for habitahor. In late 1977. ERDA monitonanye OF the Bikimrans who had returned ecur-