In
1968,
President
Johnson
was
advised
Commission that the main islands of Bikini
monitored
in
the
future), and
permission
Atoll
for
by
the
Atomic
were safe
Energy
(but should be
resettlement was
given.
In
1969, therefore, the Department of Defense and the Atomic Energy Commission
cleared
the
1970-73,
planted
atoll
of
brush,
debris,
and
abandoned
equipment,
and
during
thousands of coconut trees and some breadfruit and pandanus were
on
Bikini
and
Eneu
Islands
with
the
help of a number of Bikini
people who had begun the resettlement (3).
In 1978, however, an examination of the settlers on Bikini
by
a
team
burdens
from
of
additional
the
Brookhaven
National
radionuclide
Laboratory
cesium-137
revealed
(4).
As
a
Island
significant
result
of
body
these
and
findings by the Department of Energy (5), the 139 settlers were
evacuated in August 1978, and settlement has not been allowed by the U. S.
Since that time.
Studies
by
the
Lawrence
Livermore
National
Laboratory
team,
especially during the past 6 years, have accumulated extensive information
on the radioactivity of Bikini soil, plant products (6) and water (7).
validity of these data was
that,
coming
biased.
people
from
a
questioned
government
by the
laboratory,
Bikini
the
people on
testing
may
The
the
basis
have
been
A review in 1982 by independent consultants selected by the Bikini
(Epidemiology
Resources,
Inc.)
confirmed
the
Lawrence
Livermore
analytical findings (8).
The
scarcity of land
in
the Marshall
Islands
and
significance of land ownership make resettlement of Bikini
of
overriding
importance
to
the
Bikini
people.
on
Ejit
Marshalls.
population
Island
The
is
Majuro
Committee
Atoll,
estimates
under 30 years of age,
perhaps even under 16.
S00001I
in
and
that
the
more
rest
than
and the majority
cultural
Atoll
a matter
There
approximately 1120 Bikinians, of whom some 500 dwell on Kili
200
the
are
Island, about
elsewhere
75
today
percent
is well
in
the
of
the
under 20,
The population has been increasing at a rapid rate.
12