with coconut groves and other focd creps to replace the ccconut groves and garden plots cn Bikini Islanc wnich, for the foreseeable future, will continue to be restricted as to use. Experimental garden plots for vegetables, bread®ruit, and other crops have been established cn Eneu Island and are flcurishing. Analytic test results of these garden crops will be evailable by early sumer, 1978. Since coconuts cn Fneu Isiard already have been tested arc are safe, it is expected, in view of the vastly lower radicactivity level cf the Eneu soil, that other food crops also will be useable. The restrictions on the use of Bikini Islard, however, do pose the guesticn es to whether ail cof the arproxirately 500 Bikinians who have indicated a strong Cesire to return to Bikini Atoll, can be adequately accomodated on Fneu Island. Even if they cen it is anticipated that a small grour cf Bikinians will elect to remin cn Kili Islard. Estimates for rehabilitaticn of the Kili Islarc conmmmityv facilities are set at a minimum cf $2,000,000, thus making the overali Bikini Pehabilitaticn Fecuest $15 millicn at 1977 prices. Should the present tests being uncertaken on Eneu Island Cemonstrate that islerd's unsuitability fcr agvicultural purpeses, or if the aerial survey reveals unexpected negative results, then resettlerent of the Bikinians ray heve to ke consicered outsice the area of Bikini Atoll. Kili Island, even thouch it micht be rehabilitated and ceveloped, cces not possess encuch lanc area sufficient to support the people cf Bikini in the future. Its lack of a lagoon prohibits, to a creat extent, exploitaticn of marine resources. Any resettiewent elsq@vhere will entail sums equal to, if rot greater than, the amount requested in this authcrization. It is therefore essential that an authorizaticn be approved by Cergress to enable this Lepartdrent to start the initial phase of the final resettlement of the pecple cf Bikini. The Office of Management and Budget has acvised that there is no objection to the presentation of this draft bill from the standpoint of the Administration's pregran. Sincerely, SECRETARY Enclosure