4-141S
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Dr. Martin B. Biles, Director
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Division of Operational Safety
U.S. Atomic Energy Commission
Washington, D.C. 20545
Dear Dr. Biles,
We are pleased to present our comments upon "Report by the Task
Group on Recommendations for Cleanup and Rehabilitation of Enewetak
Atoll" dated 19 April 1974 and sent to us by you on 2 May 1974. We
take strong exception to the recommendations of this Report and the
philosophies on which these recommendations are based. On the other
hand, we commend the AEC upon the thorough scientific work in this
Report and in the backup volumes NVO-140 on the Enewetak radiological
survey.
In addition to being troubled about regulatory matters, we
disagree with the recommendations of this Report because it is not
in accord with wishes and probable needs of the Enewetak people. As
a result of U.S. actions, parts of their lands were altered and the
Enewetak people were displaced to accommodate U.S. weapons testing.
We should now make every effort to allow them a living pattern to
fit what they view to be their needs.
The radiological and other
safety conditions upon their return should apply to those local
conditions, not necessarily those of the U.S. population with its
different radiological conditions and its greater uncertainties of
exposures.
In fact FRC i, para 7.7 and 7.8, emphasizes that "there
is no single permissible or acceptable level of exposure without regard
to the reasons for permitting the exposure.''
Within this context, the
numerical values should be considered as guides which might be appro-
priate for a particular action under certain circumstances. Since
permissible levels of exposure for the Enewetak conditions are not
clearly established, the U.S. government function for Enewetak would ™be primarily to assure that national policies are not being exceeded
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RG (mSVi
DEFENSE NUCLEAR AGENCY