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US DOE ARCIIVES
326 U.S. A TOMIC ENERGY
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‘Collection — McCraw
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MAR 2 4 W872
Fife a
To Files
MEETING WITH AMBASSADOR WILLIAMS ON REHABILITATION
OF ENIWETOK ATOLL
On March 16, 1972, Dr. Mart{n B. Biles, Nr. Roger Ray of NV, and I met
with Ambassador Franklin WiJlfams, the President's personal representative
Also attending were representatives
Ambassador Williams stated that he and his staff are preparing for the
next session of status negotfations for the Trust Terrftory on April 2,
1972, and are studying the position to be taken on Enfwetok Atoll. They
most desire tc avold any confrontation with the Enfiwetok people at this
time,
Considering that afl{tary requirements for use of the Atoll] will be ended
with comletion of the PACE exper{ments, a serfes of high explosives tests
on islands near former nuclear test sites, Williams was consideri{ng the
possibility of an tamediate return of a portion of the islands {fn the Atoll
that had not been used by DOD and which were largely unaffected by past
nuclear tests. In any event, Willfams would like to announce that Enfwetok
Atoll was to be returned to the former residents at the April 2 meeting.
The AEC representatives reviewed past experience with Bik inf Atell and the
considerations, decisions, and actfons that lfe behind the Judgment that
the Bikint people could be safely returned to their homeland. The potential
problems with radioactive scrap materf{al and contaminated sofl fn and around
craters on certain {slands at Enfwetok was discussed. Roger Ray who had
recently visited Eniwetok reported on the large quantities of scrap metal
some of {t containing induced radfoactivity, seen in that Atoll. Oompared
to Bikini, the job of cleanup was estimated to be much bigger and sore
costly. We also d{scussed the lack of current monitoring data for all of
Enfwetok Atoll and the time and expense required to obtain this information.
AEC representatives stated that possibly the dollars required for the radiological survey of Entwetok, ebout $150,000 te $200,000, could be provided
within current budget }fetations by reprogramming projects, but funds
for the large cost of cleanup, which may cun from two to five afliion
dollars depending on actfons needed, ere not available.
Representatives
Co
ciy
of DNA stated they could be the lead agency for cleanup operations as
was DASA (JTF-8) for Bikini, but they could not provide the money from
i>
Nn
the rehab{lfitation of Eniwetok Atcl]l.
of the Defense Nuclear Agency (DNA).
eo
ae —
for Micrones{on Status Negotfatfons, and members of his staff to discuss