-3-
it was tentatively planned that when the U. S. no longer had a requirement for
the atoll the area would be returned to the rightful owners.
Due to insuf-
ficient natural resources on the Rongerik Atoll, the natives (then numbering
184) were moved to Kwajalein Atoll in March 1948 and housed in tents temporarily while a decision was made for a permanent location.
to Kili Island in November 1948, where they now reside.
The group moved
It should be noted
that Kili Island lacks a lagoon and that marine life as a source of food is
not available in sufficient amount to supply the needs of the population.
The forced change in diet has contributed markedly to their inability to
adapt to Kili Island.
Thus the strong desire on the part of many to return
to their native Bikini Atoll remains alive.
There are now approximately 500
people on Kili Island and when a poll was taken early in 1967, 146 of the
group indicated a desire to return to Bikini Atoll.
In the ten years which elapsed from the last test series (1958) at
oat tee,
Bikini to the present, the atoll has been essentially uninhabited.
Dense
vegetation has spread over the larger islands, and native marine and ter-
restrial animals have flourished in man's absence.
During the period from 1946 to 1958 the land mass and water in the
lagoon at Bikini Atoll became contaminated from both atmospheric and underwater tests.
Brief radiological surveys were made on several occasions to
follow the decay of radioactivity on the atoll; however, an intensive, rather
wo
complete radiological survey was made during August 1964.
The decision was
made at that time that the health and safety of people returning permanently
é
i
to the area might be endangered.
i
May 1967 as a result of a request by The Honorable Stewart L. Udall, Secretary
of the Interior.
<A detailed resurvey was made during April-