i By By ers No. Tol. L-1iS1 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 972-3335 or (Monday, August 12, 1968) 973-3446 408348 (NOTE TO EDITORS AND CORRESPONDENTS: Dr. Glenn T. Seaborg, Chairman of the U. S. Atomic Energy Commission, today issued the following statement on AEC's xole in the decision to allow the former residents of Bikini to return to their atoll.) it nas been greatly satisfying to my fellow Commission- exs anc me to take part in the decision, announced today by Presicent Jonnson, to return the Bikinians to their atoll. The attached AEC report on the radiation survey of Bikini Was & cornerstone of that decision. x<eport, which declares the acolli once again safe for human nasitetion, represents the work of many higniy cualifiead men, including the scientific team which surveyed che isiends in 1967 and the special consultant committee of experts who produced the report. it has been just over 10 years since the last nuclear test toox place at Bikini on July 22, 1958. The intervening years have broucht a remarkable recovery on the AEC sponscrec research teams noted in both 1964 Tne 1967 survey was made at the reouest of isiands, as and 1967. tne Secretary OZ the Interior whose department is responsible for the welSaxreG Cf the Bikini natives. The Bikinians were moved from their atoll in 1946 before the c first nuclear test took place. Gne ceam which visitea the atoll in 19¢7 included radioLogica: and neaith physicists, marine bio Fologi sts: a tropical égkicw_turalist, an anchrorvologist and representatives of ce Paciitic nterior. Islands Trust Territories, BEST COPY AVAILABLE bepartment’ot the sree US DOE ARCHIVES (more) RG 326 U.S. ATOMIC ENERGY iCobbeetts | COMMISSION » OS: Sec re far/ £ 4 74 Coa ~ i Box, 7 Satdey A te So ~F 7 Kagliaifioey / |