DRAFT
13
of the Marshallese, the “CMM consider restoration to preevacuation standards is
inescapable moral responsibility [of] both AEC and DOD..." (Posgibly “CMM”refers
to the commander.) Clarkson believes that CINCPACFLT shbuld be assigned
responsibility with AEC assistance for continued medical observatidn of the islanders
and accompanying radiological studies.”
27 Apr 54
ADMINISTRATION
RELOCATION
Persons not affected or slightly affected by Castle Bravo have been moved to
a tent camp on Ebeye Island, Kwajalein Atoll, and the high commigsionerof the T.T.
expects the DODandthe AECto restore clothing and livestock and assure continued
medical checks as needed to the Marshallese evacuees.™
May 54
RADIATION
RELOCATION
The Utirik residents are allowed to return to their island, hich Brookhaven
National Laboratory (BNL) physicians find "only slightly contaminattdttd and considered
safe for habitation.”
2 May 54
RADIATION
RELOCATION
Bugher, the AEC/DBMdirector, reports that "it appears to
undesirable" for
Rongelap residents to return to their home for a year but that fhe health of the
islanders seems to be satisfactory.”
21 May 54
CONTRACTOR
MEDICAL
PLUTONIUM
RADIATION
Commenting on the LASL analysis of data on plutoniugn excretion from
urinalysis of the Rongelapese, Gordon Dunning, AEC/DBMhealth physicist, questions
the reliability of the LASL data. According to the LASL data, thra@e of the readings
reported are above the maximum permissible body burden.”
24 May 54
RADIATION
RELOCATION
Gordon Dunning of AEC reports that the highest strontiunf”
value on Naen
Island is 0.5 microcuries per square foot and on Rongelap 1.6 x 19’ microcuries per
square foot.
He adds that “only a small fraction” of the Rongelapese food supply
_ comes from island plants; that the calcium contentis significantly
greater than 1,000
poundsper acre and thus will correspondingly reduce the strontium uptake; and that
weathering may eliminate a small amount of the strontium acfivity. Therefore,
Dunning thinks that the amount of strontium” in the soils shold not prevent a
return of the Rongelapese to their islands.”