ERDA with the People of Bikini has been the cause of much of tne damage already done to the Bikini community. For example, it was AEC's recommendation that the People might go back to Bikini Island without appreciable risk of exposure to radiation which lead to willingness on the part of Bikineans, such as to actually take their families and return to Bikini. By August and September, 1975, communication fron different ‘agencies of the United States Government to the People of Bikini had become totally contradictory. At the same time a representative of ERDA was at Kili telling the People of Bikini that Bikini Island was “safe'' and that he would himself have no reservation about living there, the Department of Interior was announcing orficially in Washington that the further Resettlement of Bikini Island must be stopped because of the apparent risks of radiation based on the August 1975 preliminary reports by ERDA. For the People of Bikini, who have heard these conflicting statements only in spoken form, in English translated into Marshallese, without opportunity to review the underlving scientific or technical documents in their own language, the result has been confusion and heartbreak. ~~ 7 eee By their own terms, the August 1975 ERDA documents are so orelixinary in nature that expression of conclusions as to sazetv of Bikini Island is not warranted. The docu- manmis themselves state that many tests have yet to be complecec, including such vitally important tests as that of radioaccivizy of ground water at Eneu Island. the People of Bikini have a strong desire to 5052018 PRIVACY ACT MATERIAL REMOVED