uv “ Sts . .oy oo (Oa PTE ay Univd States Department «o, che Interior NetsA WASHINGTON, D.C. 20210 ota pe i i OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY Nice= po 40 0668 Te) paner aa MAR? 75. Dear Hr. Secretary: The resettlenzent of the Gikini Atoll which was used for nuclear weipons testing is resulting in a high degree of public, United Nations and Consressional inferest. A Master Plan has been developed, extensive crops planted, and 40 houses and a schoo] have been built. : The Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands is preoared to construct 38 more houses and a dispensary in anticipation that some 500 Bikinians will be ready to return shortly. Recent radiolosicalinforwation indicates a needa for a comprehensive follow-on survey so the project was halted. Despite assurances that the atoll] is jsafe, the attitude and fears of the people are being influenced by varicus outside Grouos, many of whom are critics of the nuclear prosram. If we are to avoid disrupting the resettlement plans az Bikini, and the loss of our credibility with tha people, we must answer the critics. To do this we neea a great ceal of adaiticnal data on the ragiological situation at Bikini Atoll. Since tne sikini radiotogical surveys were made in the 1960's more sophisticated and : sensitive instrumentation has beccue evailable. | ens ae Accepted radio- logical practices have beccme more stringent and there has been extensive land clearing for planting crops, which niay have affected . the radiation situation on the islands. ‘|The Energy Researcn and Development Aduinistration is prepared to conduct an additional radiological survey of Bikini Atoll beginning in April if logistics support can be provided to include: 1. Two helicopters and an associated support platform for about 2. Airlift from CONUS to Bikini Atoll and return for ERDA 12 days of flight operations at Bikini Atoll. technical equinpaent and personnel. There is a loncer term problem of developing a current documentation of the residual radioactivity on all the islands that received fallout from U.S. nuclear weapons tests. c ~ o ‘| on, \ —i - - This also could b2 accon- plished, starting in April or later in the year, with ERDA providing the technical resources. Such a survey would require an additicaal 30 days of Flight operations at several atolls. 5 CONSERVE : easy 50051988 From LLNL mec RECORD - Fi I&=: IMENT. Bik4a| AGgage- + 4259, ¥ (ACTIONS Save-Energy and You Serve America! .