1.
1.1
INTRODUCTION
Task
Rongelap Atoll was contaminated with radioactive fallout in 1954 as
a result of the Bravo thermonuclear test-shot at Bikini, 130 miles away.
In 1978, to inform the people of the Northern Marshall Islands of the
extent of residual contamination 24 years later, and of its potential
effects upon their health, DOE (Department of Energy) surveyed the region
and subsequently issued a specially prepared book report in Marshallese.
The book was entitled, The Meaning of Radiation for Those Atolls in
the Northern Part of the Marshall Islands that were Surveyed in 1978,
and was published in 1982. (We shall refer to it as DOE-1982.) The first
part dealt in general with radiation and fallout, and how they might
affect plants, animals and man. The situation at Rongelap was dealt with
specifically on pages 38 - 39. (Note 1)
DOE's assessment of Rongelap Island
was not accepted by the
Rongelap people, so much so that in 1985 the residents abandoned their
hones and moved to Majieto in Kwajalein Atoll.
The U. S. Congress, therefore, provided for an independent
assessment of DOE's conclusions for Rongelap Island, in the Compact of
Free Association Act of 1985 (U.S. Public Law 99-239, section 103(i}; see
Note 2). The functions of the present report are therefore as follows:
"[The referee shall] review the data collected by the Department
of Energy relating to the radiation levels and other conditions on
Rongelap Island resulting from the thermonuclear test...The
purpose...shall be to establish whether the data cited in support of
the conclusions as to habitability of Rongelap Island as set forth
in the (book) ...are adequate and whether such conclusions are
supported by the data....If...the data are inadequate to
support... habitabilty...the government of the Marshall islands shall
contract...{for}...a complete survey...f{and for recommendations
of]...the steps needed to restore habitability..."
It should be noted that the law is quite specific in referring to
Rongelap Island, not Atoll« and accordingly this Report concentrates on
that Island, the chief residence of the Rongelap people. However, data
and comments:on other islands of the Atoll are included.
[The standards of safety in this Report -- as is to be expected --
are those exployed currently in the U. S., where the radiation protection
guide for the general population is 5 rem in 30 years (.17 ren/yr), whole
body exposure (technically, the committed effective dose equivalent).
The protective action guide is 0.2 rem/yr to the bone marrow (committed
dose equivalent).
These matters are discussed in Note 5.]
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