924
DESIRE OF BIEINIANS TO REMAIN OX BIEINI ATOLL
Mr. Yares. Your letter indicates that the Bikinians want to stay
on the atoll. Is that impossible f
Mrs. Vax Creve. In our judgment, it would be improper for them
to remain because of the medica! risks involved. and the Department
of Energyagrees withthat conclusion.
According]y. we mean to persist in our plans to relocate them. this
in the interests of their physical safety. We recognize. of course. their
preference to remain. That'is why we have had this problein for sonie
30 vears and if will continue for some decades hence. We are simply
trving to meet it in the most reasonable way we know. recognizing the
physical threats that exist if they remain on Bikini Island.
CATSES OF RADIOACTIVITY ON BIBIX1 ATOLL
—_——
Mr. Yates. Let's Jook at it a minute before we go to the High Com-
miussioner’s Statement.
The
reasonthev
Qfthie Cocos anl Wai:
OSL
cp sas
tw
2
Irs. Van Creve. ] believe itis 8 combination of both.
Mr. Yares. That wasn't Mr. Deal's testimony the last time. As I]
remember his testimony the Jest time. it was intemal causes rather
than external causes: is that right. Mr. Deal?
Mr. Jiear. } think mavbe both are nicht. The external radiation has
tO ve CONsiuticd. Phe internal 1§ $0fuel that it overshadaw~ the
oral
Mr. Yatrs. How potent
—
is the external; and suppose you did not!
have the internal radiation? Would it be feasilde for them to remain?
Mr. Draw. The exte
sahonur i
Mr ¥ATES. | t would be as dangerous as Denver. Colo.. 15 to those
Teas ‘
£ it. «
VEE
Mr, Dea. Yes. sir.
Mr. Yates. They are not evacuating the city of Denver. are they?
Mr. Dea. I hope not
Mr. Yates. So. therefore. the amount of external radiation in the
city of Denver is not considered sufficient for that city to be evacnated.
I assume. therefore. that if that is the same condition on Bikini. the
basic cause for your suggestion or your recommendation
sin-
lane te evacuatedis the ingestion of the food and the water; correst ?
*.DFAL Yes.
§1
£1D,
Mr. Yates. Now if the Bikinians wanted to stay there. stay on their
atoll. if they did not consume the water and the food that was there.
I would deduce from what vou sav that it would be as dangerous for
them to Jive on Kili or Jaluit or anv one of the other islands as it
.B: right!
«Dear + ss sir. the other islands are quite—
y.
WitLort~ ye to the ba“ic
ane
nestion then: { a
.
spel
yernnit them
They would not ise raRing Inthe radmted
yood
Mr. Drat. If sou ask my opinion. Mr. Chairman. personel"
TLhaxe
concluded that it is probably impractical to have people Tiving in
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DOE ARCHIVES
2002418
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