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there ix un imimedinte danger, then we can pause until the radiological survers

reveal whether the move te Joneu can be made or whether we buve to move tow

less attractive sile.

-As we informally advised the committee stad! last week. the results of
the very recent tests of the body burdens of the people Tiving on
Bikand PJand show a stendicant mereace m such burdens. While it

may be arguible whether the test results show“an immediate danger,”
wedn the Department of the Interior are satisfied that the people
should be moved from Bikini Tsland as soon as it is possible to do so.
We have asked the representatives of the Department of Energy to
discuss with vor the radiological situation on Bikini and its implications for the people on Bikini Island. and they will do so in a moment.
Then the High Commissioner and Fowant to discuss with you our plans
for the move of the people from Bikini Tsland.
NEED TO RECAST BIKINI REIEABILITATION PLANS

Tanust tell von now, however, that we have suddenly been required
to recnst our preliminary plins ina very major way. The cominittee
will recall that when we testified before you a month ago, we antici

pated, on the basis of the best information then available to us from

the Departrnent of Mnergy, that if it were necessary fo move the
people of Daikint Island to an alternative, safe site. we could expect
that the nearby istand of Eneu would be avatleble for that purpose,

Last Thursday we learned thiat tests of a limited sample of foodstuffs growingon Eneu showed an uptake of radionnelides much in
excess of tho-e predicted on the basis of the known cesium and strontinm content of the soil, Accordingly. we iuive concluded that we must
eliminate Enen as an altermttive site, and we have thus revised suabstiuntially the plans for temporary settlement, We will outline those
plans te von after the Energy Department discussion of the radioactivity situation on Bikini aid neu.
‘To assist us in our discusion of our relocation plans, there are present

with me this morning, in addition to Tigh Commissioner Winkel,

his District Adiministrator for the Marshall Islands District, Oscar

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