-13- Paragraph 77 ERDA's SUGGESTED RESPONSE AND/OR COMMENTS (Continued) ‘the June 1975 survey of Bikini and Eneu Islands by ground monitors, using portable and vehicle mounted instruments, was most satisfactory for making such dose estimates. The optimal technique referred to is the use of alrborne Instruments flown over the islands in helicopters. This method of radiological monitoring -- and our reasons for desiring it -- can be put into perspective as follows: a. The aerial survey will fill in the detailed fine structure of the specific radionuclide content of soil for all Islands in the atoll, including Bikini and Eneu, the islands where the people will live. Also, this wil} provide information which is not now available on plutonium. The previous ground surveys did not have the equipment for measuring the plutonium content of soil directly. The data that are available from the analysis of a limited number of soil samples are not adequate. b. The shallow area of the ocean side reefs of Bikini and Eneu are accessible to the people at low tide. The previous surveys done on foot were unable to make any measurements on the reefs. Before the islands are Inhabited, measurements of radiation on certain areas of the reefs should be made. The aerial survey is uniquely suited to do this job. c. DOE ARCHIVES Experience at Enewetak emphasized the need to carefully look at all islands. For example, the aerial survey Prelanw scm 1 7S