RMI Nuclear Justice Documents

against the United States or Trust Territory Governments

by reason of their use of Bikini Atoll.“
also expressly agreed:

The signatories

". . «that any future claims by

Bikinians based on the use of Bikini
by the Governments of the United States
or the Trust Territory or on the moving
of the Bikini people from Bikini Atoll
to Kili Island shall be against them
and not against the Government." *
In 1975, Congress passed Public Law No. 94-34 which.

authorized and appropriated an additional $3 million in
ex gratia payments as compensation for use of the land
on the atoll.
In 1977, Congress passed Public Law No.

95-134 which authorized an additional $100,000 for the

Bikini community.

Finally,

a clean-up was conducted in
Some $4

1969 and rehabilitation in the early 1970's.

However, recent
million were expended in this program.
studies leave in question the effectiveness of this

program.

eee e+

To summarize,

the people lost the use of Bikini Atoll

from March 1946 to 1974.

of the land,

nae

In compensation for the loss

the people were given use and occupancy of

416 acres of substitute land on Rongerik Atoll from 1946
to 1948 and about 200 acres of substitute land on Kili
Island from 1948 to the present.
In addition, ex gratia

payments have been made in the. amount of $3,425,000,

to

compensate the people for the loss of use of the atoll.
Finally, a clean-up and rehabilitation program was
completed at a cost of approximately $4 million.
III.

Other Atolls.

Other than as described above, no nuclear testing
was conducted by the United States in the Marshall Islands.
_ However, Test Bravo detonated at Bikini Atoll on March l,
1954, had impacts on other atolls to the north because
an unexpected high yield combined with an unpredicted
shift in winds.
As a result, the radioactive cloud

deposited fallout on Rongelap and Utirik Atolls, and

perhaps elsewhere.

The 82 people residing on Rongelap Atoll and the
158 people residing on Utirik Atoll were evacuated
~

“In March 1966, the Iroij of Bikini accepted $15,000

and gave to the Trust Government a release of all of his
rights to the atoll.