with coconut groves and other food crops to replace the coconut groves and garden plots:on Bikini Island which, for the foreseeable future, will continue to be restricted as to use. Experimental garden plots for vegetables, breadfruit, and other crops have been established cn Fneu Island and are flourishing. Analytic test results of these garden crops will be available by early sumer, 1978. Since coconuts cn Fneu Island already have been tested ard are safe, it is expected, in view of the vastly lower radicactivity level of the Eneu soil, trat other focd crops also will be useable. The restricticns on the use of Bikini Islerd, hovever, do pose the questicn es to whether all of the arproximately 500 Bikinians who have indicated a strong desire to return to Bikini Atoll, can be adequately acccmmodated on Fneu Island. Even if they can it is anticipated that a small grow cf Bikinians will elect to remain cn Kili Islarad. Estimates for rehabilitaticn of the Kili Island commmityv facilities are set at a minimm of €2,000,000, thus making the overall Bikini Pehabilitation Request $15 millicn at 1977 prices. Should the present tests being undertaken on Eneu Island Ccenonstrate that island's unsuitability fcr agricultural curpeses, or if the aerial survey reveals unexpected negative results, then resettlerent of the Bikinians ray have to ke considered outsice the area of Bikini toll. Kili Islend, even thouch it might be rehabilitated and developed, cces not possess encuch lance area sufficient to sizport the people of Bikini in the future. Its lack of a lagoon prohibits, to a great extent, exploitaticn of marine resources. Any resettlement elsewhere will entail sums equal to, if rot greater than, the amount requested in this authcrization. It is therefore essential that an authcrization be approved by Corgress to enable this Department to start the initial phase of the final resettlement of the pecple of Bikini. The Office of Management and Budget has acvised that there is no objection to the presentaticn of this draft bill from the standpoint of the Administration's program. Sincerely, SECRETARY Enclosure ings °