-9- Paragraph 71 ERDA's SUGGESTED RESPONSE AND/OR COMMENTS (Continued) Area Office, about the safety of work crews planting coconuts In the Peter-Oboe complex. Also, during a trip by Or. Robert Conard of Brookhaven National Laboratory, he was asked whether work crews could drink well water on Bikini Island. The context of both the question and the answer provided in the letter from Dr. Biles of June 17, 1971, is use of well water by work crews. The answer does not apply to permanent . residents wherein any radioactivity Intake from use of well water would be added to intake from the rest of the diet consisting of locally grown foods. Except for fish and some coconut, the diet of a work crew would consist primarily of imported food. by permanent residents of Bikini question. Use of well water Island is a more complex ERDA is to provide additional guidance on use of well water on both Bikini and Eneu Islands when results of well water samples collected in June have been evaluated. . findings. This guidance will relate to radiological Guidance on water quality considering its mineral or bacteriological content is more properly the responsibility of Trust Territory Health Officers and possibly Public Health Service. 72 DOE ARCHIVES Ist sentence - admit. 2d sentence - deny. There was no construction of housing underway at Bikini Atoll in 1974 or since that time. Enclosure 1 7/