radionuclides 2395 240 Pu, 24) Pu and 24) Am, are still present in concentrations which could be of a concern from a public health point of view and needed to be evaluated in order to form a basis for decisions on resettlement options at the atolls. A limited number of radiological surveys were conducted at Enewetak, Bikini, Rongelap, Utirik and other atolls prior to 1966. These surveys generally inventoried the quantities of radionuclides in specific geographical locations or those associated with different classes of organisms or substances. They were not usually supported by basic physical, chemical or biological modeling of the systems. Examples of such studies are those by Welander | who reported W706 90¢,. and some Pu concentrations in various marine and terrestrial biota at Enewetak and Bikini; and those by Welander 2,3 and Held 4 for radionuclide concentrations in environmental components from Bikini Atoll. In late 1966 the Secretary of the Interior requested that the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) determine the condition of Bikini Atoll and make an evaluation of whether the Bikini people could safely return to their atoll. In 1967 a survey was conducted of Bikini Atoll and a dose assessement was completed;” a committee was appointed by the AEC to review the results of the survey and assessment and to make recommendations thereon. The committee recommended certain cleanup, rehabilitation and follow up actions to guide Federal agencies involved in the assessment. On Aug. 12, 1968, President of the United States, Lyndon B. Johnson, announced, in a letter to the Secretary of Defense, a major federal program to prepare for the return of the people to Bikioi. In 1969 the Department of Defense and the AEC commenced the cleanup of debris and equipment from Bikini. At this time agricultural reclamation was also begun with the removal of scrub vegetation and the planting of coconut