411679 1 * . - - Chatrman Ray THRU: QDmen Seneral Manager ENEWETAK PROGRESS This is In response to Mr. Gorman Smith's memorandum of September 21, 1973, to Mr. Hol Tingsworth. For the past year, the AEC has been Involved with the Departwents of Defense and interlor In planning for the return of Enewetak Atoll to Its original Inhabitants. From Gctober 1972 to February 1973, the AEC conducted an extensive radiological survey of the ato]! concurrent with a Department of Defense (00D) engineering study. This study and our survey wlll provide 2 basis for planning the cleanup of the atoll. Further, the 000 and the Department of Interior (00!) are Jointly preparing a single Oraft Environmental Impact Statement (BEIS) for the cleanup and rehabilitation of Enewetak. These activities are derived from a mutual agreement reached by representatl ves of the three agencles on September 7, 1972. It was agreed then that the AEC would fund for and canduct a pre~cleanup radiological survey and provide recommendations for accomplishing cleanup; that the 00D would conduct a pre~cleanup engineering study, fund for and accomplish the cleanup; and that the 901 would fund, plan for, and carry aut rehabilitation. {fe was further agreed that the AEC, on a reimbursable basis, would provide radiological support to the BOD, as requested, during the cleanup operation. when cleanup 1s complete, the AEC will carry out a radtolagical and biological vertifleatton program to Include perlodic monitoring fer an Indefinite period. Our radiological survey is now the principal AEC activity and will provide the basis for the Judgements and recommendations for cleanup and rehabllitation now being prepared for Commission approval. The Manager, Nevada Operations, with LLL's Radiochemistry Pivision Leader as his technical director, planned, organized, and carrled out this survey. The reduction of data from nearly 4,500 samples of sall, water, Fish, sea and land plants, afr, animals, and birds Is now nearly complete with the final report ‘of the survey scheduled to be published November 1, 1973.00 pe - P3200 BEST COPY AVAILABLE ben |— AT COMMAS. “RG 3lb DoF DoF. Histo: B (visa Ont ea"dew we 5 { 4 VoMer om£071zest