ye wo GS a ah eh oeor “ coh oe o ° oo CG SA? cy eo . ffrs * a ee oes a . A a a 408762 S., nal “Datige fl of we {"Lgeke REPOSITORY LAhss - Cess KC.Set couection 22342 >. t ny 7 g Z. / Ler dicen cl / LE. ol Wf 7 : FOLDER LIKE A ia 4 be al APR 4 ~ 987 Bonorsvlea Cari T. Durhen Chaicman, Joint Coumtttee on Atoaic Ruergy Congress of the United dtates Dear Yer. Durbaas After the relatively heavy faeliont on the Marshali Islands March 1, 19%, Sc inhabitants were evacuated first to Evajnlein and to Ejit where they ax now living. There bave been public stotenents, con- curred in by the Atomic Energy Commiesion, Department of Interior and the Oeportaent of State to the effect that theee people will de returned’ to their home Island af Bongelap as soon a0 health con siderations pormit. Guch s statement was submitted to the l7th Sausion of the U. 2. Trustesship Cowneil Subcommittee of Petitions, Marth 27, 1956 by Me. Vernon Ds MoEay, Special Representative of the Administering Authoriides for the Druat Verritory af tac Pacific Islands. Several radiological surveya of the Marenali Islands, aspecinily Romgeisp Atoli, uave been made during the peat two and one-half years. Tas iatest survey (duly 23-24, 1956) indicates a presence of & rewidual contanipation on the Iceland of Rengelap, wit at a level that ic ecceptable trom 6 hesith podist of view, both for the potentiel external gauma radiation exposure and the strontiua-%) content in the food supply, with the possibie exception of lan’ crabs. Toerefore, the position of the Ataste Energy Commiscion is that the Rongelapese could be returned to their home loland ac soon as re~ habliitation procedures on tae Teland of Rougelap are completed, with the advice that land erabea not be eaten at this time. The plans Yor the return of the Ronpelapese have been concurred in by the De- partaent of Interior vhich ts the Government agency responsible for BOOT COPY AVAILASLE -~ the Truat Territories, awi by the Department of Utate. L$ BOX No. Sec,efe few