assistance in locating the second group of houses on Bikini Island, the
ERDA recommended that en aerial survey of the type flown at Enewetak be
conducted for the entire Bikini Atoil.
This survey would provide detailed
data including contours of the total external gamma radiation,
content and plutonium in the soil surface.
isotopic
Neither the ERDA nor the DOI
had the integrated logistical support system needed for an aerial survey
and DOD was requested to supply this.
ment
Since DOD would request reimburse-
for its support and there was insufficient time to obtain the necessary
funding,
ERDA conductec a
limited ground survey of external radiation levels
on Bikini and Eneu Islands in June 1975.
that
The results of this survey showed
the radiation of the interior of Bikini Island was
too high for further
housing settlements and that future settlements on nearby Eneu Island would
minimize radiation exposures.
Kili Istand
CIVIL NO.
Currently, theBikinians are beingresettledto_
A lawsuit, THE PEOPLE OF BIKINI, ET AL VS. SEAMANS, ET AL,
75-348 U.S.D.C., D. Hawaii, alleges that the U.S. Government has
not assessed properly the radiological conditions at Bikini and among other
things, requests the court to order an aerial survey for Bikini comparable
to that conducted at Enewetak.
Justice,
the plaintiffs'
During negotiations with the Department of
legal counsel recognized that the surveys and
evaluation of radiological conditions at Bikini Atoll were not as comprehensive as more recent work at Enewetak Atoll, and sought an aerial radiological survey of Bikini and the other northern Marshall Islands.
The merits of the aerial survey have been thoroughly discussed at staff
levels between DOL, DOD, and DOE both before and after the initiation of
the lawsuit.
of ERDA,
Briefings on the survey were provided to the Administrator
the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Health and Environment),
the
Department of the Interior, Office of Trust Territories, staff members of
OMB, and the Chairman of the CEQ.
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