or. Berpert. vetter:
locations on Bikini Island ovez.a- period@ftime and’ that,
“from & Fediological viewpoint, ithe water:is safe to Grink.*
Despite these:‘assurances,
e|pikinians exprassed
increasing concern over the atell's dntetyewand in 1975
srought # court action to, séekK anorder. directing the Uni
States te. conduct a thotough. xvadiological ‘gwUrvey of the atoil
to Mmeasure.and assess. its safety: .In the court complaint, tha
Bikinians‘openty| concededtheir ignorance as to Bi
.
Bose
reported that Well watet/ sampled shad been:vtaken fromseveral
aime
ee
ee,
In
1971, the Director of: AEC's Division of: Operational Safety
1
no discernable effect on. either: plant oxrjanimal life."
ew
“Cleanup ana.‘pehabildtation
» be‘mikded began in 1969
in preparation fox resettlement, and. tthe AEC continued to
wenitor Bikini’s‘safety.:.One AECofficial stated in 1569
that "there is: virtuallyino radiation left, and we can find
“!
June 22,. 2979.
Page Two
2
:
yo.
“.
‘s mavety:
Bee us‘to.jpake an ‘intelligent decision te
-) yesettle Bikini Atoll, ‘we must be able to
.. °Weigh
i
our d@sire and return againgt the
. o gadiological. risks ‘or returning.
We have |
.. Mot been prpvidedwith that! information.
(daa form thatwe can undereand.
|
Kftex several years. of:Litigation. and settlement discussions,
the United States agreed to. conduct ai thorough. radiological
study, including aerial radiation surveys and: terrestrial and
wiring studies, of Bikini and:ithirteen other islands amd atolls
in the morthern - Marebalt Islands’ that, received fallout from
one or more of‘the. U.Se nuclear:‘teste) in ithePacific.
“the survey.‘yas conducted in late 1978, and weme of the
results from:the aerial surveys have been, released.
Bafore the
Burvey WAS. even conducted, however; im dical:examinations con-
ducted in April, 1978: 0n the’ 145 people 'who had been moved beck
to Bixint 4n the early (1970's, showed body buxdens so high that
it was Rovessary to fove then:otf Bikini Jslend.
:
- Based on ‘these. medical examinations and preliminary
reaulta from. the ‘radiological :survey, |the United States bas
announced that BikinijIsiandiwill be off |dinits for habitetion
ox egoricultaral use. for approximately| 60 Years and that Heau
Island dn Bikini scoldwill be off jimits: for at- least 20-25
yoare.
Se,
. A
|
|
aguawikandobe who! are‘confused bythe conflicting
inforwation they: have‘received over the years, do not understand why. warlierSurveysbf-Bikdiniw re eiponeous Thay
Petal
we
7