DRAFT 27 7 Dec 66 RELOCATION Secretary of the Interior Stewart Udall advises AEC Chairman Seaborg that the DOI is "most anxious to determine whether the Bikini people caf now be returned to their homeland" and asks the AEC to review the issue at the "earliest opportunity.” Udall’s primary concern is that the Bikinians’ plight might convin¢e all Micronesians to vote against permanentaffiliation with the U.S. in their upconfing plebiscite.'” 1967 CONTRACTOR MEDICAL BNL studies conclude, "with increasing probability,” that h retardation in "some of the Rongelap children" has resulted from "hypofunction of the thyroid gland.” 24 Jan 67 CONTRACTOR RELOCATION Officials from the University of Washington, BNL, the DOI, FRC, and the AEC, including the Health and Safety Laboratory (HASL) of NYOO,decid® to resurvey Bikini Atoll to determineif its people can be returned there. Ed Held is selected to plan the expedition. Mar 67 CONTRACTOR , MEDICAL Conard diagnoses a new case of nodules in a 17-year-ol@ boy. Of the 19 children under age 10 exposed in 1954, 16 have "developed thyro# pathology,” with two displaying hypothyroidism. To date, 11 people have been operated on andall are in "good condition with no further ... abnormalities." Those ghildren who have not been operated on are receiving hormones.’” Apr - May 67 RADIATION RELOCATION The AEC undertakes a survey of the Bikint Atoll to detefmine "levels and components of external gammaradiation fields." Cesium’is foungi to be the "major contributor ... to the total exposure rate” on Bikini and Eneu Islands, and because of its 30.5 year half-life its "levels on Bikini ... are likely to be thej limiting factor in assessing the long term hazards” to repopulating the island.”'”* An agricultural survey of Bikini Atoll finds that “while a smal part of theatoll was damaged by the nuclear explosions, the atoll as a whole coul@ support coconut groves and subsistence crops." In addition, fish and seabirds frould provide an "extended supply of sustenance." It is recommended to begin anf"early agricultural rehabilitation program” to prepare the islands for resettlement. Such a program is expected to last four years and cost $165,000.’ An anthropological study of the Bikinians and their leaders reveals that most are dissatisfied with Kili and wish to return to Bikini."”