HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
PART IT
The U.S. nuclear weapons testing program conducted from 1946 to 1958
in the Pacific left long-term radiological contamination and health
problems.

Bikini and Enewetak Atolls, where the testing was conducted,

were the most severely affected, but fallout from these tests has touched
many islands in the Northern Marshalls.

Of special concern was the heavy

fallout from the March 1954 test which caused radiological injury to many

of the people of Rongelap and resulted in at least one death for radiation
related disease.

The Department of the Interior (DOI), Department of Defense (DOD), and the
Atomic Energy Commission (AEC), later the Energy Research and Development
Administration (ERDA), and now the Department of Energy (DOE), cooperated

in the steps taken to date to perform radiological surveys and assessments
(1967-1968) and to perform cleanup and rehabilitation of Bikini (1969 to
present) and in the radiological survey and assessment of Enewetak Atoll

(1972-74).

This Enewetak survey utilized the most up-to-date and modern

techniques, including the aerial survey of islands utilizing sensitive
radiation monitoring equipment carried in helicopters.

The DOD began the

Enewetak cleanup in FY 1977, with the DOI rehabilitation program initiated
during cleanup to take advantage of logistics and communications capabilities
attendant to cleanup operations.

The DOE has performed followup radiological

surveys at Bikini and Enewetak Atolls.

It also conducts medical observation

of the exposed populations of Rongelap and Utirik Atolls at frequent intervals.
The Department of the Interior (DOI), Office of Trust Territory of the
Pacific Islands

(TTPI),

is responsible for rehabilitation of the former

test sites, Bikini and Enewetak.

Phase I of the Bikini program included

planting of coconut trees and building 40 homes and other community buildings
on Bikini Island.

The houses were built along the lagoon shore where the

radiation levels were the lowest.

In responding to a request from TIPI for

Select target paragraph3