Files
-2-
October 7, 1959
in May the natives reported to Neil Morris that LST 745 (USS Clarx
Countyi?) waa inside the Rengelap Lagoon. Mo clearance had bean
ebtained from the Trust Territory and this ship was apparently ordered
to clean up behind the Miran group.
They did the very opposite of
cleaning up on Eabelle. They were asliciously deatructive, breaking
wp all glass and weetal parts on the University of Washington Lysineters,
tearing down drain pipes from the Kabelle cistern and ripping out aarkers
and experimental plots whenever located. The littered beer cans looked
like the remains of a large two weeks party om the beach. The aonetary
loss wee considerable and valuable data was lost forever.
The Trust Territory has been informed of this imeident and Henry Schlacks
ef che Kaiwetok ARC office is making a report through Ray Emena, Branch
Meneger, and their channels.
I would atrongly advise continuation of the Rongelap study as soon as
clearence te do so cam be obtained from tha Trust Territory.
Invaluable
information is being collected concerning atoll ecology as vell as a
ecuntinvous surveillance ef radiation decay in the islets.
Attachwent:
4toli maps
etr—Dr. shilling
———ee. Waitnsh
> B. Weichold
BMES
OFFICE >
SURNAME waters.
DATE >
10/7/59
Form AEC-318 (Rev. 9-53)
16-~62761-3
an
| _
et.
ch
ep
B. §. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
_
;
Te
,
.
e
a
Np
~