radionuclides 2395, 2405, 24) Pu and 24 am, are still present in
concentrations which could be of a concern from a public health point of view

and needed to be evaluated in order to form a basis for decisions on
resettlement options at the atolls.
A limited number of radiological surveys were conducted at Enewetak,
Bikini, Rongelap, Utirik and other atolls prior to 1966.

These surveys

generally inventoried the quantities of radionuclides in specific geographical
locations or those associated with different classes of organisms or
substances.

They were not usually supported by basic physical, chemical or

biological modeling of the systems.

Examples of such studies are those by Welander | who reported Wie.
90.) and some Pu concentrations in various marine and terrestrial biota at
Enewetak and Bikini; and those by Welander 2,8 and Held 4 for radionuclide
concentrations in environmental components from Bikini Atoll.
In Tate 1966 the Secretary of the Interior requested that the Atomic

Energy Commission (AEC) determine the condition of Bikini Atoll and make an
evaluation of whether the Bikini people could safely return to their atoll.
In 1967 a survey was conducted of Bikini Atoll and a dose assessement was
completed; > a committee was appointed by the AEC to review the results of
the survey and assessment and to make recommendations thereon.

The committee

recomiended certain cleanup, rehabilitation and follow up actions to guide

Federal agencies involved in the assessment.

On Aug. 12, 1968, President of

the United States, Lyndon B. Johnson, announced, in a letter to the Secretary
of Defense, a major federal program to prepare for the return of the people to

Bikivi.
In 1969 the Department of Defense and the AEC commenced the cleanup of
debris and equipment from Bikini.

At this time agricultural reclamation was

also begun with the removal of scrub vegetation and the planting of coconut

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