ROUTINE
TEN2
MSG646
PAGE 02
269
0013
2UARJECTS. ENEWETAK CLEANUP/REHAB OPERATION
de
ONE ELEMENT OF DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR'S
(DOI'S)
REHABILITATION
PROGRAM FOR ENEWETAK ATOLL INVOLVES PLANTING SOME 414,000 COCONUT
SEEDLINGS, PRIMARILY FOR COPRA PRODUCTION TO PROVIDE THE MAJOR *
CASH CROP FOR PEOPLE OF ENEWETAK.
2.
MAYORITY OF THESE SEEDLINGS (ABOUT 27-000) ARE SCHEDULED
TO BE PLANTED ON THREE SOUTHERN RESIDENTIAL ISLANDS (ENEWETAKe
MEDREN?
JAPTAN).
REMAINDER
(ABOUT 14*000)
ARE PLANNED FOR SEVEN
NON-RESIDENTIAL ISLANDS: SIX OF WHICH ARE IN NORTHEASTERN QUADRANT
PAGE THREE RUEBDBA1L483 UNCLAS
(AEJ» LUJOR! AOMONe BIJIRE, LOUWAre ALEMBEL).-
Se
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY C{DOF) HAS RECENTLY OBTAINED NEW DATA
ON RADIONUCLIDE UPTAKE IN COCONUTS AND IS REASSESSING ADVIS-
ABILITY OF PLANTING ON NORTHEASTERN ISLANDS DURING CLEANUP/REHAB
PERIOD (SCHEDULED To END IN APRIL 1980).
DECISIONS ARE EXPECTED
WITHIN NEXT FEW WEEKS.
AIF DECISION IS FAVORABLE? DOI WILL BE ON TIGHT SCHEDULE
TO PURCHASE SEEDLINGS: PLACE IN NURSERIESr/ AND SUBSEQUENTLY
REPLANT+ COMPLETING EFFORTIN ACCORDANCE WITH AGREED CLEANUP/
REHAB SCHEDULE.
B.
IF DECISION IS NOT FAVORABLEr ALL CONCERNED WITH EN-
EWETA
K
.
CLEANUP/REHAB WILL BE EVEN MORE PRESSED TO DEVELOP ALTERNATIVES,
REACH DECISIONS+ AND EXECUTE--STILL REMAINING WITHIN ORIGINAL
SCHEDULE.
4e
ACCORDINGLY+ REGUEST FIELD COMMAND (DONA) COMMENCE WORK
IMMEDIATELY WITH ALL CONCERNED (PRINCIPALLY DOEr TTPIr HOLMES
AND NARVER (H&NW)+ MICRONESIAN LEGAL SERVICES (MLS)+ PEOPLE OF
ENEWETAKe DOE+ JTGr AND SERVICE ELEMENTS ON ATOLL) TO DEVELOP
ALTERNATIVES TO COCONUT PLANTING ON SIX NORTHEASTERN ISLANDS.
PURPOSE OF EFFORT IS TO BE BETTER PREPARED FOR EI
THER FAV
ORABLE
PAGE FOUR RUEBDBA1483 UNCLaSs
OR UNFAVORABLE DOE DECISION IN OCTOBER.
Se
GUIDELINES FOR PLANNING EFFORT:
A.
IT IS STILL ANTICIPATED THAT ENEWETAK CLEANUP /REHAB
PROGRAM WILL BE COMPLETED ON SCHEDULE IN APRIL 1980.
B. IT Is HIGHLY DESIRABLE THAT CLEANUP/REHAB PROGRAM DE~ROUTINE
s
A «10