HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
PART II
The U.S. nuclear weapons testing program conducted from 1946
a
seth
att haill
in the Pacific left long-term radiological contamination and
problems.
Bikini and Enewetak Atolls, where the testing was
were the most severely affected, but fallout from these tests
many islands in the Northern Marshalls.
Of special concern was
the heavy
fallout from the March 1954 test which caused radiological injrry to many
of the people of Rongelap and resulted in at least one death fpr radiation
related disease.
The Department of the Interior (DOI), Department of Defense (D@D), and the
Atomic Energy Commission (AEC), later the Energy Research and
Administration (ERDA), and now the Department of Energy (DOE),
in the steps taken to date to perform radiological surveys and fassessments
(1967-1968) and to perform cleanup and rehabilitation of Bikin
(1969 to-
present) and in the radiological survey and assessment of Enew@tak Atoll
(1972-74).
This Enewetak survey utilized the most up-to-date
ahd modern
techniques, including the aerial survey of islands utilizing sehsitive
radiation monitoring equipment carried in helicopters.
The DOD began the
Enewetak cleanup in FY 1977, with the DOI rehabilitation program
initiated
during cleanup to take advantage of logistics and communicationg
capabilities
attendant to cleanup operations.
radiological
The DOE has performed followug
surveys at Bikini and Enewetak Atolls.
It also conducts medica]
observation
of the exposed populations of Rongelap and Utirik Atolls at frequent intervals.
The Department of the Interior (DOL), Office of Trust Territory
Pacific Islands (TTPI), is responsible for rehabilitation of th
test sites, Bikini and Enewetak.
Phase I of the Bikini program
planting of coconut trees and building 40 homes and other commun[ty buildings
on Bikini Island.
The houses were built along the lagoon shore
radiation levels were the lowest.
Phere the
In responding to a request fr@m TTPI for