tao —) 4ORB18 C. ACTION MEMORANDUM TO: | Acting Administrator FROM: James L. Liverman, Assistant Administrator SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR FIELD COORDINATION AND MANAGEMENT POSITION O¥ AES ACTIVITILS IN THE PACIFIC AEA for Environment and Safety Issue Should ERDA/AES designate a headquarters!’ staff person to coordinate and manage research, health, and safety activities in the Pacific area? Background , During the nucl2zar testing period in the Pac’ fic, the inhabitants of Bikini and Enewetak were temporsrily displac:d from these atolls to ensure that they would be safe. In order to make these islands habitable again after three decades, the Federal government has undertaken a loig cleanup and rehabilitation process at both atolls. The Pepartment of Defense is responsible for the clean-up activities while the Department of Interior is responsitle for rehabilitation of the returning Marshallese. ERDA is respo.sible for advising both agencies On matters concerning short and long term radiation satety aspects of rehabilitation and cleanup. Rehabilitation is underway at Bikini atoll. As outlined below, it is not proceeding without continuing attention by ERDA staff even though this atoll had less testing than Enewetak. Planning and mobilization for the cleanup of Fnewetak atoll ic underway. Nuclear tests left two islands, unit and Engebi, contaminated, a source of continuing radiation concern, Our experience from the Bikini rehabilitation indicates that many of the radiation problems could have been mitigated if scientific and aurveillance personnel were present to address these problems during the cleanup phase, ERDA presently has a $3m research/surveillance program in the Marshall Islands that is already complex and multifaceted. This program focuses on six aspects: BEST COPY AVAILABLE OFFICE >» . bec eve coseeeeateacganeeestnananen cost eesssuppaneeceeneenaas eer eee BUA ME Sp meee en, . CATED on Fern Als, 318 (Rev, 9-53) AECM 6240 ee... Ee Te perpen ae i‘ ;- le : e Cc despesnees sovecsceustesssucetecetsn os frecgunneescaaeenessonsspeanseesersicssccses cestcsusssaeeceedseseeecteassssessentanses Prvsapsenssceestecscatsusetesseaneneceatsnesappeaeeessrel w U, 8. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFIC es 1974-6826-168 OM TS A eo ‘oos ' A 1 * = enepireee, soe eye ma? rope mee, oa yr re eae ye ee ote . Tome ee we PPT. rTeere , cal oeee . wot te . , . . ) r ri i .. an . . ,| a4 wee ey, wee an f eon 1! mt ‘ *, oot ’ tes oho af 7 t .