401771 United States Department of the Interior OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY WASHINGTON, D.C. 20240 July 20, 1979 Mr. Ralph Waltz Box 208 Majuro, Marshall Islands 96960 Dear Mr. Waltz: This is in reference to your letter of July 10, 1979, and the comments on the notes of the June 13, 1979, Bikini meeting. Thank you for clarifying the status of Mr. Lekebol and also for your comments on Item 10 of the "Notes" of the June 13, 1979, meeting. We did have some questions with respect to the comment that considerable numbers of the residents of Bikini Island had been living on Rongelap at the time of the 1954 fallout since this is how we had interpreted Mr. Weisgall's Statement. We will append an annotation to the June 13, 1979, "Notes" with your correction that the reference should have referred to individuals who had lived on Rongelap since 1957 onwards and who were eating local foods grown on Rongelap. Your question with respect to the level of "Gamma Rays" being similar on Rongelap and Eneu is noted. I am referring this question to the Department of Energy for comment. The statistics you compiled on the people who were removed from Bikini Istand in late August 1978, are appreciated although I have some questions with respect to them. As part of the arrangements for the move, the Trust Territory contractor, Holmes & Narver, made acareful census in May 1978, by household on Bikini Island. This census was included in the May 1978, Relocation plan entitled "Relocation of Bikini Island Residents to Temporary Quarters". I enclose the census sheets from this plan for your information in the event you do not have them. I realize that the composition of the group had changed slightly by late August. The questions we have relate to your comments that over half of -the people who were relocated were not "Bikinians" and that most of them did not come from Kili Island. The question as to who was a real "Bikinian" was raised when Under Secretary Joseph, Deputy Under Secretary Wallace Green, and I visited Bikini Island and Kili Island last August. Mr. Oscar DeBrum, then District Administrator, informed us that except for a few local administration employees, the only non-Bikinians involved were those who were married to i or Bruce Wachhalz QUE Edo