narrow, elevated land strip thus vegetation and would serve as tides. However, the a formed would be planted with inedible screen against wind and exceptional high present beach would be covered, so that the formation of a new beach over a period of some years would have to be planned for. Significant movement of radionuclides from the strip back into the island's soil is most unlikely, washed out of the soil since over the by rain. past 25 years cesium has not been If necessary, a membrane would separate the strip from the island proper. Psychologically, uncomfortable for the Bikinians. the resettlement of Bikini this alternative might be The contaminated soil which has prevented Island would be used to form its new seaward this alternative are not the boundary. The minimal. atoll's Since the legal problems reef is presented now awash, baseline, which in any case has the by strip would affect not yet been drawn, nor would it affect navigation. 4.4 Soil Replacement The removal replacement (Appendices elevation without sediment dredged conveniently. added to the total cost to of 30 A, B, it. If from the The for of E£) since some lagoon incremental island-extension about cm Bikini the reason off of topsoil does island would replacement Eneu and not have is entail sufficient undertaken, Bikini could be the used cost would be some $25 million, which when plan $67 million above, (Table for 9). example, would If only small bring the quantities of backfill are needed, projecting sand spits could supply them. The basic chemical nature of lagoon sediment and of island sand is similar to that of the island soils, but the upper layers of the soil have accumulated nitrogen s000034 and over sometimes the years considerable phosphorus (Table 36 3), amounts of organic matter, important substances for