The third alternative, requested by the Bikinians, uses the spoil
to build a causeway, connecting Bikini and Eneu, a distance of some 8 km.
The increment in cost for this alternative over the other two is estimated
at about $40 million.
As noted, our cost estimates may be on
the high
side,
but
on
be about
twice
as
in
any
event
expensive
as
a
relative
basis
the land-extension
or
the causeway would
lagoon-dumping
Also, questions have been raised regarding the environmental
a structure.
alternatives.
impact of such
Presumably these negative factors would have to be balanced
against the assessed positive value to the Bikini community.
would be the U.
go
S.
Also decisive
government's perception of its obligation,
beyond restoring
Bikini
to a
state
if any, to
functionally equivalent to that of
1946,
A major environmental
the
disposal
of
the
Excavation removes
regarding the
spoil
the
may
"richest"
be)- relates
to
layer of soil,
Bikini
and
deat
with
Island
there
productivity of the newly created rooting
application of fertilizer.
To
impact of the excavation approach (whatever
is
itself.
uncertainty
zone, even after
The matter has not been tested.
this
and
related
questions, the
Committee
has
. requested support for the following pilot trials at Bikini, to be completed
within two years.
(a)
After removing the top 30-60 cm of soil, productivity would
be tested with and without
fertilizer
which
blocks
compaction
that
vehicles.
Cesium-137
results
fertilizer treatment
cesium-137
from
and
the
uptake),
use
of
and
heavy
strontium-90 would
(including high-potassium
with
and
earth-moving
be assayed
without
or
in the
the
trucking
crops
as
well as in the residual soil to insure that they are at anticipated levels.
{b)
The spoil generated in these trials would be used to build a
pilot segment of perimeter strip (including berm).
Its stability would be
observed, and tne diffusion from it of cesium-137 and strontium-90, which ~
might contaminate ground water, would be measured.
5000031
*