SUMMARY This document provides a preliminary environmental evaluation of various proposed alternatives to rehabilitate soils at Bikini Atoll contaminated by nuclear weapons testing in 1946-1958. All alternatives and components of alternatives were evaluated by the Bikini Atoll Rehabilitation Committee, but three approaches are pursued in greater detail: delay of resettlement; chemical treatment of soil with potassium fertilizer; and excavation and disposal of contaminated soil. Some alternatives are still under active investigation. The main report discusses the technical feasibility, cost, advantages, and disadvantages for each of the three major approaches. This report will focus on the comparative environmental! evaluation of all alternatives and incorporates the main report by reference. Table 1 lists the set of alternatives considered in detail for each major approach. The asterisks indicate those alternatives that the Committee will pursue in greater detail. TABLE 1 MAJOR APPROACH ALTERNATIVES No action to rehabilitate no action (of any kind) No excavation of soil chemical treatment of soil* soil (spontaneous decay of unstable cesium) delayed resettlement resettlement with controlled diet phased or partial resettlement biological extraction washing of soil topping of existing soil with new soil Excavation and disposal of soil extension of Bikini Island* disposal on Nam or another island disposal in a lagoon crater* open lagoon disposal open ocean disposal causeway construction soil replacement options* At this time (Oct 1984), the combination of alternatives that will minimize environmental effects is initial early resettlement of Eneu Island (which requires no major soil cleanup) with soil cleanup actions taken later. The initial resettlement action could also lead to a more accurate estimate on the total number of Bikinians willing to resettle on Bikini Atoll. If cleanup of Bikini Island soil is required or desired at a later date, then the cleanup option with the least adverse environmental effects would be any feasible alternative not involving excavation and disposal af soil. However, these may be less desirable to the Bikinians or less effective and result in delays of several decades or more to permit subsistence use of atoll crops. If excavation and disposal of Bikini Island soil is still required or desired, then lagoon crater, Bikini Island expansion, or disposal on Nam island are 5000131 :