Unic. . States Department of t 2 Interior . =. anne Beet net ie Sade ee 0 Bibaes cartes lheed wantOh tn Bn eae 400645 OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY penne WASIHINGTON, D.C. we ad 20240 JUN 191975 ' Dear Mr. Secretary: Recent developments have caused grave concerms as respects our responsibilities toward the people of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, primarily those of Bikini, Enewetak, Rongelap, Utirik and Rongerik Atolls. The cleanup of Bikini,-in anticipation of the eventual settlement, was a joint effort among the Department of the Interior, Department of Defense, Atomic Energy Commission and the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, as set forth in the enclosed August 12, 1968, instructions from President Johnson. As we were proceeding with the construction program the Atomic Energy Commission, in November 1974, informed us of some recent radiological findings that caused us to stop the project. We were told that a sophisticated follow-on sutvey was highly desirable not cnly on Bikini but throughout the various nuclear test areas. To that end, Secretary Morton, in his March 7, 1975, letter to you requested logistics support for the Energy Research and Development Administration survey. Unfortunately, in Mr. Clements! May 29, 1975 reply, the Department or Defense covld not prcevide this unless $609,000 in costs could be reimbursed. The Department of the Interior was unable to identify funds for this, nor could ERKDA which was prepared to absorb all other related.costs from monies already programmed. Consequently, we are deeply. concerned that a quality radiological survey such as that ‘performed on Eneweta 1. Pes whose pecple will not be coming back for some time, cannot be made available in a timely fashion for the Bikinians whose return is imminent. To compound the situation, on June 11 the Marshallese chief, who claims control over the atolls of Rongelap, Utirik and Rongerik, all accidental fallout areas from the 1954 Bravo test on Bikini, visited the Director of Territorial Affairs, claiming loss of use and other damage as a result of this event. He contends that the U-S. - Government never presented the people with a briefing of any radio- logical survey conducted nor to date has told his people that 'Rongerik is habitable. It is clear that the U.S. Government has and will continue to have for many years, a long-term responsibility for thorough monitoring of cousenve ENERGY From bG = LEnu pecords mec Bihin Agree weed 7 Aches Save Energy and You Serve America! os 9609