AC? " DEPARTMENT Or HALTH. EDUCATION, AND WELFARE ' OFFICE OF THE SI-CRa-ARARY WASHINGTON. 1.C. . , . . aber HOV 15 19741 “ . US DOE ARCHIVES -gog u.g. ATOMIC ENERGY 24° RG______¢gmMiss1en-—_———— . Lt. Gen. Warren D. Johnsen, USAF ‘Defense Ruclear Aacncy Washincton, D.-C. 2030s:. Deal DOS/ lectior Des[D ea Fries Collee Box ie, Joh Folder/z-3 iy Dear Si 326 DEéETS . We amoreciate the opportunity to review the draft Environmental Impact Stetement for the wromosed Cle Anup: Rehabilitation, and Resettlement of the Enewetak Atoll - Marshall Islands. On the basis of our review, we oifer the following comments: 5.3.3.1 Control of Food Sources LES? COLY AVAILABLE The results of a ra@iological survey show hich levels of tte contamination on the northern islands and low levels of contamination on tre scutern islands. This high level of contaminacion is of significance both from the standpoint ne i et ce wet hd of external expnosure and from the uptake of the radionuclices by plants as well as by incidenous fauna which if eaten would result in internal doze and Geposition of radionucliGes. Radiological surveys on Enewetak have found evidence of uvteke of cesium-137 anc strontiun-?0, anong other radicnuclides, in indigenous plants used for food including cocecnuts, pandanus, breediruit, and tacca (axrrovroot). The surveys also report racionvclies in flesh and organs of indigenous fauna such as texns, rats, - and land crabs. Preswnably domestic aninals such as ¢ poultry and swine would, if they foraged on indicenous yadlioactive plants, also show uptake of these radionuclides. If the driEnjebi faction of the Atoll population are to live on the northern islands and particularly the island of Enjebi, care would need to be taken that the pancanus and breadfruit are grown in non-radioactive soil, either on the southern islands or imported from elsewhere. The alternative would be to provide farm plots for pandanus and breadfiruit by removing existing soil and replacing it with non-radioactive soil in sufficient volume to cantain the roots of these plants. The removal anc replacement of soil to create these farm »lots is of ouestionable and unproven value, since sustained land removal and replacement operatior could result in serious ecolosical damace of Also, unknown proport: there is-no guarantee that sufficient soil, could bo removed and reovlaced to assure radiological safety of reside: who would be eating plants qrown on these plots. a u7