a oe 940 LOCAL FOODS BANNED IN 1974 _Mr. Yarrs. We are now up to 1976. Let's go back to the interroga- tion on page 1171: “Mr. Yates. Were you still the AEC in 1976! “Mr. DeaL We were ERDA in 1976. “Mr. Yares. So vou became a little more alarmed than when you were the Atomic Energy Commission. In 1976 you first encountered this kind of a test. Is this an annual test that you had been making - of the people f” Of course, in retrospect now myquestion is not correct. because you knew about it in 1974S. You knew about the water certainly in 1974. In 1976 the coconuts were first becoming ripe. Mr. deBrum. together with the Bikinians, was eating the coconuts. But you were not drinking the water f Mr. DeBreas. Not the well water. Mr. Yares. Were vou eating the pandanusin 1976! Mr. DeBrra. Some people ate them. Mr. Yates. They ate the pandanus. What else was growing there! Mr. DeBrre. Papaya was growing on the island. Mr. Yarrs. Papaya. Anything else ! Mr. DeBrra. Pumpkins, Mr. Yates. Pumpkins? Mr. DeBrox. Yes. Ait. Mates. And people were eating al] of these things. all the vege: tables! Nir. DeBreu. We hed indication thatsome of themadmitted thev ate them, sir. Mr. Lats. “at t Mr. DeBrear. Yes Mr. Yatrs. And were vouwtold voy rere not toeat them! . Mr. DeBraun. Thev were told that ip sees qucsmonable sir. and not toent them. Celene INITIATION OF TIP] FEEDING PROORAM Mr. Yatrs. And all during the period starting in 1972, every month a ship came to Bikini with food ! Mr. DeBrem. Yes. Mr. Yates. And water? Mr. DeBrem. No. no water. Mr. Yates. Just food? Mr. DeBaca. Yes. Mr. Yares. So they were drinking the cistern water! Yates. And o:vou Mrr. YatesAng. wa Mr. Detrus. At times There were y SIv) Mr. DeRreat. Mr. th . Were re_ rou h food. ore tried to supply them with enough. Src Yates. Sq inthe cated thal tops. Iving were supplying BP. g them wit . 4) hadtoraicaconuich eatingindi- ATES. Thesed ! Mr. DeBrecs. Yese. Mr. Yares. Whycould vou not get there in time? DOE ARCHIVES 5002489