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RADIOLOGICAL CLEANUP OF ENEWETAK ATOLL

The dri-Enewetak had established the elected Municipal Council and

Magistrate form of government in 1968 to assume mostofthe powers
which the hereditary iroijs (chiefs or kings) had exercised under the
former system. Within the confines of Ujelang Atoll, many of the

feudalistic distinctions between the dri-Enewetak and the dri-Enjebi clans

were disappearing, and a united community with a representative form of

government was emerging. However, the promised return to Enewetak
Atoll and hereditary land holdings was reviving the old feudal elements
and the powers of the iroijs. Both they and the Municipal Counci|
members viewed the Planning Council proposal with some skepticism.
After lengthy explanations by the Americans and lengthy discussions
among the people, it was agreed that a five-member Planning Councij
would be selected from the population at large to serve under the
Municipal Council in an advisory capacity on cleanup and rehabilitation
matters only. The Planning Council was elected by secret ballot and held
its first meeting on 24 July 1973. The membership subsequently was

increased to six.4.5

’ The Planning Council tried to develop a two-community concept which
would retain the traditional dri-Enjebi/dri-Enewetak divisions of land. It

was assumedthat Enjebi (Janet) Island would be cleaned to radiologically

acceptable levels for residential use. Therefore, they selected Enjebi,

Japtan (David), and Medren (Elmer) Islands for the primary residential

areas, leaving Enewetak (Fred) Island to be used as an airport and
commercial/industrial area. Later, when it appeared that fission product
levels on Enjebi would preclude its residential use for a number of years
and that outside interest in Enewetak Island would be limited, the twocommunity concept was abandoned. The people agreed that both the driEnewetak andthe dri-Enjebi would share the isiands of Enewetak, Medren
and Japtan as permanent residential sites.§
During the July 1973 meetings, the people identified the following
islands for intensive agricultural use and somefull-time residential use:

Ananij (Bruce), Aej (Olive), Lujor (Pearl), Aomon (Sally), Bijire (Tilda),
Lojwa (Ursula), Alembel (Vera), and Runit (Yvonne). The remaining
islands were to be visited occasionally for food gathering or picnicking.

A survey was conducted to determine each family’s housing needs and
preferences using six scale models fabricated by Mr. Hawpe’s company.
Two of these models are illustrated in Figures 10-1 and 10-2. Maps

showing the land parcel (wato) boundaries on Enewetak, Medren, and

Enjebi were reviewed and corrected by membersof the council and others
who claimed a special knowledge of these matters. The information
obtained in these meetings was incorporated into the first draft Master
Plan.

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