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DEFENSE NUCLEAR ACENCY
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20305
7 June 1974
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Dr. Dixy Lee ray
Chairman, US Atomic Energy Commission
Washington, D. C.
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D ear Dr.. Dr.. R Ray,
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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.
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APPENDIX 1
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