- DEFRNSRNECLRGRIKEENCY *t N Folder MA+%S.2 KadintawVol. 3 Chairman, US Atomic Energy Commission Washington, D. C. 20545 Dear Dr. Ray, OSAISO3Y Dr. Dixy Lee Ray 7729 € Wd 2] WA Pl. Box YVLIYIIS SHL JO 3d14540 nc 326 US, ATOMICENERGY 7 June 1974 Collection. SEGRETARIAT eS Soon the AEC staff will present to the Commissipn recoiffendations for cleanup and rehabilitation of Enewetak. 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 health 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. However, this major concern is complicated by diverse objectives: a. 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 islands. | I understand your Stadtwid bwrerant to the Commission some arguments we have raised; thus, the Commission's ould receive the advantage of different viewpoints. “Iwant to assure y u that I will not contest the standards recommended by the Commission. However, I hope they will consider the entire problem: biological y,political - and fiscal, as well / | } | as the social and economic effects Yon theSnewetakese 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. APPENDIX 1 74 -36>— Regoty 5-2-7