Oo C3 DEFENSE NUCLEAR ACENCY WASHINGTON, D.C. 20305 7 June 1974 S = oD . m Dr. Dixy Lee ray Chairman, US Atomic Energy Commission Washington, D. C. S 1 20545 Poe qc. = bry 3 m “y m co gm mi > 2 s = c D ear Dr.. Dr.. R Ray, y = m Soon the AEC staff wil] present to the Commission recommendations for cleanup and rehabilitaticn of cnewetak. DoD has charged the Defense Nuclear Agency with the responsibility for the cleanup phase. How we go about the cleanup will depend on the radiological standards established by the AEC. I am concerned with several aspects of this project. Of course, our primary concern must be the heaith and welfare of the Enewetak people. If this were not so there would be no reason for the entire effort and the United States could simply maintain the status quo. concern is complicated by diverse objectives: a. However, this major assurance that no Enewetakese receives radiation doses which will adversely affect him or future generations, b. accommodation of the strong desire of the Enewetakese to return to Enjebi, one of the islands with a level of radioactivity which some say cannot be reduced to acceptable levels for residence and agriculture. There is some controversy over what constitutes an acceptable level. Indeed, the people themselves might well prefer a small risk to denial of their cherished home. important in this respect is a doubt (at least in my mind) that we can keep the Enewetakese from living on Enjebi once they are resettled on the other nearby isiands. I understand your starz wid present to the Commission some arguments we have raised; thus, the Commission shoyld receive the advantage of different viewpoints. I want to assure you that I will not contest the standards recommended by the Commission. However, I hope they will consider the entire problem: biological - political - and fiscal, as well as the social and economic effects on the Enewetakese people if the Standards are such that we cannot resettle them on one of their major home islands. Finally, I am sure that the Commission will want to assure itself that marginal health benefits do not override the substantial benefits the Enewetakese would enjoy from more complete use of their land. bt Y _ 2 {. 5 eee, , APPENDIX 1 — beg ee Cyt a ~ atenype ne TRO ve “y y Serotec meg x ot ? re eee SN ord er Layee Tones ewe persie wats ame oom ge ve. oe rad “on, Lyeht, cee EP ay Oe . .%s . pat Bg apes .° Ay ‘ af we agh . TO ne oe ote an \. ee ¥ 4 \" oo > Ja ae ny