OFFICIAL USE ONLY were exposed to fallout during the nuclear experiments at the U.S. Atorgic Energy Commission's ENIWETOK Proving Ground in March, 1954Fto their homeatoll in the Marshall Islands in about two months,. a the Bepartment of the Interior announcedtoday. 7 —a7 ij < " “The plans are being made asa result of information from the Atomic Energy Commission that the people may be returned to RONGELAP. sage:. afiltes. we The Cormmmission has advised the Department that it has carefully evaluated data from several radiological surveys made during the past two and one-half years. The results of the latest survey indi- cate the presence of residual radioactivity at a level that is accepta- ble from a health point of view, both as regards the potential ex- ternal gamma radiation exposure andStrontiurn-90 in the food supply, with the possible exception of land crabs. The RONGELAP inhabit- ants will be advisednot to eat land crabs pending the results of future radiological Surveys. Land crabs are not a major item of their nor- mal diet. 'Eighty-two RONGELAP inhabitants were removed from their home atoll following the fallout that occurred after the March 1, nuclear test at the ENIWETOK Proving Grounds. 1954, They remained on KWAJALEIN until June, 1954, when they were moved to a village “a 1-30 OFFICIAL USE ONLY. we Sap ee ae constructed for them on EJIT Island in the MAJURO Atoll.