Beeause of growing populetion pressures and a shortare of productively inhavitabdle land areas in the Marshalls, it is the obligation of the United States to return to civilian uses any areas which are excess to its needs, The total land areca of the Marshall Islands is approximately 70 square miles, With a 1967 population of approximately 19,000 the square mile ratio is 270. Killi has a lend area of 0.36 square miles. On the other hend, Bikini atoll has a lend area slightiy in excess of two square miles. Its lagoon erea is totally disapncared; others are mere sund spits; still otners have been diminished aL in size as a result of wave action; anc all nave suffered some loss of topsoil. Other than tne main islands of Bikini and Enyu, adiation Level that continuous napitation is nowt yet vossible and = mee ~ . - 4 - _ condition precluces substantial agricultural development at this time, set Bikins and Envu are overgrown with a jungle-like stand of scrud vegetation which will sustain neivner subsistence nor commerce. ropianved to coconuts and other food crops. st erc-G Q it t+ we? their davaged wivn the remains of the This must be cleared and the isiand Additionally, all islands are testing programs. These remains, some of which <« angercus because of deterioration alone, some because of residual radioactivity, Os ? they have a sufficiently high and others because they would interfere with or preclude agricultural redevelopment, must be removed before the Bikini tcople can be permanently recettled on - tne atall. Nousing and community facilities are non-existent and need to be