The Progress Report on Bikini Resettlement that the Department was presenting to Congress on July 1, 1979, would use the May 15 report as
the official report.

7.

Possible Cleanup and rehabilitation of Bikini_and Eneu Island

Mr. Weisgall inquired as to whether an "Enewetak type cleanup," i.e.,
removal of considerable quantities of soil might either make Eneu island
habitable in the immediate future or possibly lessen the time span
Eneu must be placed off limits to the people of Bikini.
He asked that
this request be included in the Department of Interior's report of July
1, 1979, to the U.S. Congress.
Mrs.

Van Cleve stated that a definitive answer could not be given at

this point of time but that certainly DOI would respond to this question.
In any event, she proposed to include Mr, Weisgall's letter of June 12,
1979, to Under Secretary Joseph as one of the attachments to the July l,

Progress Report to Congress.

A long discussion then ensued on this question.
Dr. Wachholz and Mr.
McGraw of DOE explained the difference between the “plutonium cleanup"
of Enewetak and the situation at Bikini.
It was noted also that the
elements at Bikini, i.e., the sub-transuranics, migrate throughout the
soil so that simply removing layers of top soil may not necessarily
change the situation.
It was indicated that DOE could undertake a study
of soil profiles, but it must be kept in mind that other priorities
would make it impossible to do much on this request in the next several
months.
Mr. Weisgall asked that any future study of this nature focus primarily
on "Eneu Island" since this island was a "near miss" with respect to uSe
for resettlement.
It was agreed that DOE would respond formally to the
various questions listed on page 6 of Mr. Weisgall's letter of June 12,
1979, to Under Secretary Joseph with respect to possible additional
cleanup of Bikini Atoll.
DOE was requested to spell out the questions
certain of his requests posed, for example, the differences between
Bikini and Enewetak be described and contrasted, and it be pointed out what
would be involved if a massive soil removal project were contemplated,
i.e.,

the cost, where would new soil come from, would it be useable for

tropical crops, what would be done with the contaminated soil removed.
A complete explanation, Mr. Weisgall believed, would place this overall
question in a better perspective for the people of Bikini.

8.
Independent Review and Assessment of the results and conclusions of
the Northern Marshalls Radiological Survey, specifically as they applyto
the safety of Bikini and Eneu Islands.
Mr. Weisgall discussed the need for an independent review and assessment
and noted that in ae recent GAO report on Enewetak Cleanup, that DOE had
stated it was not against an independent assessment of radiation criteria
there.

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