4035607 OFFICE OF TERRITORIES news release “Milner - 343-4736 For Release pms January 18, 1969 BIKINI RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM RELEASED YA. A further step toward the return of the Bikini people was taken when the President transmitted a budget request of $1,700,000 for fiscal year 1970 for the cleanup of the atoll, the construction of housing and a village center for the first returnees, and the initiation of a replanting program designed to make the main islands of Bikini and Envu once again productive. Secretary Udall has released a resettlement proeran prennred by the dish Commissioner of the Trust Territory with the assistance of personnel from the Atomic Energy Commission, the Pefense Department and the Depart-— ment of the Interior. The resettlement propzram is the direct result of a survey trip made to Bikini in late August 1968 following the President's BEST COPY AVAILABLE COLLECTION ROEM. "The High Commissioner of the Trust Territory has been requested to move forward as rapidly as possible with the resettlement work," Secretary of the Interior Stewart L. Udall said. announcement that the Bikini people could ke returned. The survey trip was designed to develop basic information for planniny a resettlement program. The overall resettlement of the Bikini people is planned to be phased over a six-year period at an estimated cost of $3,900,000. The first step, and the largest single cost element, is the clearing of the atoll of test-~ related debris and the clearing of scrub vegetation to permit replanting of coconuts and other food and commercial crops. Six months are estimated for the cleanup phase at a cost of approximately $1,200,000. a A village center at the site of the original village is proposed in accordance with the wishes of the Bikini leaders. This will cansist of a school, dispensary, church, and community facilities including warehousing. Tne Bikinians have expressed a preference for livin> on their orm lands, rather than in the village, the High Commissioner has reported. Resettlenent plans reflect this preference and call for the construction of housing units, including a house, cistern, cookhouse, corra crib and hath house. Thirty such units are planned for the first year with additi.nmal housin, units planned at the rate of six each year through the end of the resettlement proyyram. Replantin, will start immediately following the cleanup ef the main islands of Bikini and Envu. Since it takee from six to ten vears for a coconut trec to mature and become productive, a feeding prosram will be required for Laperine off retutoed a. the families. The plan cali: family's reseurces are Cor improved, cach feedins A majer aaststanee Pesature Of tue propran will oe the employment of Bikini people in the resettlemert work. The Bikini people were moved from their atoll] in 1946 te permit nuclear testing. They were moved first to Rongerik. tnen “sajalein, and then to Kili, a single island in the southern Marsnall Istands chain. Throughout their moves, they have retained a strong desire te return to Bikini. Nine of their leaders accompanied the Hieh Commissioner to the atoll in August 1968, their first visit since they lett the atoll ore than 20 years ago. 1224066 ane 2 ‘ arias pete . . a . Seem eee . i ae ee .4 . te eg, : . ™ . * fore, © he ith a 4 $ | ‘