HISTORICAL TNFORMATION

The U.S.

nuclear weapons testing program conducted from 1946 to 1958

in the Pacific left long-term radiological contamination and health
problems.

S3ikini and Enewetak Atolls, where the testing was conducted,

were the most severely affected, but fallout from these tests has touched
many islands in the Northern Marshalls.
fallout

from the March

Of special concern was the heavy

1954 test which caused radiological injury to many

of the peopie of Rongelap and resulted in at least one death for radiation
related disease,

The Department of the Interior (DOL), Department of Defense (DOD), and the
Atomic Energy Commission (AEC),

later the Energy Research and Development

Administration (ERDA), and now the Department of Energy (DOE), cooperated
in the steps taken to date to perform radiological surveys and assessments
(1967-1968) and to perform cleanup and rehabilitation of Bikini (1969 to
present) and in the radiological survey and assessment of Enewetak Atoll
(1972-74).

This Enewetak survey utilized the most up-to-date and modern

techniques,

including the aerial survey of islands utilizing sensitive

radiation monitoring equipment carried in helicopters.

The DOD began the

Enewetak cleanup in FY 1977, with the DOL rehabilitation program initiated
during cleanup to take advantage of logistics and communications capabilities
attendant

to cleanup operations.

The DOE has

surveys at Bikini and Enewetak Atolls.

performed followup radiological

It also conducts medical observation

of the exposed populations of Rongelap and Utirik Atolls at frequent intervals.

The Department of the Interior (DOL), Office of Trust Territory of the
Pacific Islands (TTPI), is responsible for rehabilitation of the former
test sites, Bikini and Enewetak.

Phase I of the Bikini program included

planting of coconut trees and building 40 homes and other community buildings
on Bikini Island.

The houses were built along the lagoon shore where the

radiation levels were the lowest.

aaa500644]

In responding to a request from TTIPI for

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