OFFICIAL USE ONLY
were exposed to fallout during the nuclear experiments at the U.S.
Atomic Energy Commission's ENIWETOK Proving Ground in March,
1954, totheir home atoll in the Marshall Islands in about two months,
the Department of the Interior announced today.
"The plans are being made asa result of informationfrom the Atomic
Energy Commission that the people may be returned to RONGELAP.
The Commission has advised the Department that it has carefully
evaluated data from several radiological surveys made during the
past two and one-half years.
The results of the latest survey indi-
cate the presence of residual radioactivity at a level that is acceptable from a health point of view,
both as regards the potential ex-
ternal gamma radiation exposure andStrontium-90 in thefood supply,
with the possible exception of land crabs.
The RONGELAPinhabit-
ants will be advisednot to eatland crabs pendingthe results of future
radiological surveys.
Land crabs are not a major item of their nor-
mal diet.
"Eighty-two RONGELAP inhabitants were removed from their home
atoll following the fallout that occurred after the March 1, 1954,
nuclear test at the ENIWETOK Proving Grounds.
They remained
on KWAJALEIN until June, 1954, when they were moved to a village
constructed for them on EJIT Island in the MAJURO Atoll.
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