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REPORT OF THE AD HOC COMMITTEE TO EVALUATE
THE RADIOLOGICAL HAZARDS OF RESETTLEMENT OF THE BIKINI ATOLL

The Committee was convened to consider the question of

whether the Bikini Atoll is safe for human habitation with

respect to the radiological hazard.
The detailed history of
the various relocations of the Bikini natives is described

in the appended material provided by Mr. Tobin

(Appendix I)*.

We have examined the documents listed in Appendix II.
In
addition, we spent one and one-half days in detailed discussions with members of the 1967 Bikini Survey Team and other

experts as shown in Appendix III.

On the basis of the infor-

mation provided, we have reached the following conclusions

and recommendations:
1.

The exposures to radiation that would result

from the repatriation of the Bikini people do not
offer a significant threat to their health and
safety.

2.

Such exposure may and should be further reduced
by the following simple measures:
,
a.

Restrict rehabilitation for the present to
the islands of the Bikini-Eneu complex.

(Appendix IV)

b.

Establish the first village and immediate
food crops on Eneu.
No radiological precautions will be needed on Eneu because of its
very low contamination level.
(Appendix V)

c.

Any village construction on Bikini Island
should involve the covering of the site with
coral rock as is the local custom.

d.

Radioactive scrap metal should be removed from
the islands adjacent to former shot sites.

e.

The population of land crabs should be sharply
reduced because of their high content of
strontium 90.

f.

If pandanus trees which produce edible fruit

are planted on Bikini Island,

two inches of

topsoil should be removed from the planting
Sites.
The area of removal from each site
should be equal to the area covered by the

Soacted

(more)
~3

CF

crown of mature trees.

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