reduce radiation exposure. In retrospect, as a member of the committee, I believe that, based on the data available at that time, the decision to allow the people to return to Bikini was justified. It should be remembered that radiation measurement techniques then were not as sophisticated as those available today; that the surveys of Bikini were far less extensive than those subsequently carried out at Enewetak atoll; and that exposure pathways of radioactive materials in the environment. are better understood at this time. The recommendation regarding continued regular radiological surveillance of the returning people, to which I was assigned the responsibility, was a very important one since in this way any unexpected findings with regard to body burdens of radionuclides could be detected and corrective Measures immediately instituted. It was because of this careful monitoring that the recent unexpected rise of body burdens of the people living on Bikini was detected, unfortunately necessitating the re-evacuation of the people. Since there were few food plants growing on Bikini for evaluation at the time of the 1967 survey, there was uncertainty regarding the extent of the radioactive uptake to be expected in the newly planted food crops (pandanus, coconuts, etc.). Thus the committee recommended that the first food crops be grown on Eneu and the first village settlement be made at that site. This was not carried out, probably because many of the people did not own land on Eneu and wanted their village established on Bikini Island. It was also recommended that several inches of topsoil be removed around the newly planted pandanus, that the village area be covered with clean coral and that the coconut crab population be reduced. It should also be pointed out that though regular personnel monitoring of the people and environment was recommended, it was not the intent of the committee that medical examinations, as such, be conducted since expected exposures from living on Bikini would be so low that such examinations would not be indicated. Therefore the medical teams passing through Bikini have held sick call and medical examinations for humanitarian reasons, but not for the purpose of checking any possible radiation effects. On August 12, 1968, President Johnson announced that the people of Bikini could return to their home atoll and plans for redevelopment and resettlement were initiated with responsibilities assigned to AEC, DOI/TT and DOD for various aspects of the program. Shortly after this, officials from the TT and AEC visited Kili and explained the recommendations of the ad hoc committee and the plans for repatriation. Later I also visited Kili and briefed the people on the recommendations of the committee and discussed our plans for personnel monitoring. At that time we collected baseline urine samples for radiochemical analyses. 3. Cleanup and Reconstruction at Bikini The cleanup was accomplished during the latter half of 1969. Almost the entire island of Bikini was bulldozed to rid the island of scrub growth. Scrap metal, etc., was removed. This was followed by planting many thousands of coconut trees, pandanus and breadfruit and construction of 40 concrete block houses. At this time some 30 TT agricultural and construction workers lived in a tent work camp on Enue and commuted to Bikini 7 miles away. 9613271 -2-