On Rongelap, the white ash formed a layer 1% 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 1s in need of vast changes."
While the Ctirik and Rongelap
strate that low levels of radiation
were not harmful to people.
effects of direct fallout exposure. the
promised the $40 Bikini people 2
hospitable islands.
Atomic Energy Commission. In
150.000 and for the Bikinians it was
>3200.000. both vielding semi-annual
iilerest payments ‘approximately
program. which included the replanting of more than 40.000 coconut
trees and manyother Jocal crops. as
well as construction of a newvillage.
About 100 Bikinians were on the
atoll when the Lawrence Livermore
Laboratory conducted a radiation
assessment in June 1978. The study.
In 1968. ten years after the Mar-
shalls’ nuclear test program had enpopulations were experiencing the ded, President Lyndon Johnson
{
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
restrict completely the use of pan-
danus, breadfruit and coconut crabs
(a dietary mainstay in the Marshalls).
Despite these and other warnings.
Energy Research and Development
Association's Dr. Conard stated a
short time earlier:
1969. an sec radiological survey | *-Our medical team has evaluated
Because living conditions on Coth stated. “There's virtuaily no radia- the radiation exposure in the peuple
Kili and Ujelang deteriorated further tlon lett and we can find no discern- who have been working on Bikint the
past two vears, There is some low
during the late 1950s and early 1960s, ible effect on plant or animal life (on
level radiation remaining on the isthe United States instituted smail Bikini."
In the early 1970s the Bikinians land of Bikint and measures nave
trust funds in an effort to alleviate
some of the problems. For the began slowly returning to their atoll been taken to reduce these
Enewetak peopie the trust fund was to help in the massive rehabilitation levels... . The internal absorption
S15 per capita for the Bikinians).
By the mid-1960s the people were
demanding a return to their hometstunds. Because the Bikinians and
Enewetakese began to receive ex-
tensive international publicity for
‘Dose Assessment ut Bikint Atoll.”
not released until mid-1977, stated
on the United States to return them clearly: “All living patterns involv-
thetr plight. the pressure increased
to Bikini and Enewetak. In addition.
the Atomic Energy Commission.
which had been increasingly
criticized for advocating that there
were “permissible levels’ of radia-
ing Bikini Island exceed federal
(radiation) guidelines for 30-vear
population doses.”’ A preliminary
report issued by Energy Research
and Development Association in
tlon exposure. was eager to demon- August [975 pointed to the need to
of radioactive matenals willbe...
onlyslight from terrestrial food plant
sources. Therefore. we do not expect to see anyill effects in the Bikini people or in their oftspring trom
the smail amounts ofradiation to
which they will be exposed.’
Caught in the middle 9t these conflicting statements. in late 1975 the
Bikinians fled a federal law sutt
against the U.S. government demanding a complete scientific survey
of Bikini to determine if the island
was indeed safe for habitatior.
In late 1977, ERDA Monitoring of
the Bikintans who had returned ear-