866
there ix un immediate danger, then we can pause until the endiological survers
reveal whether the move to neu cin be made or whether we Buve fo move Coa
less allructive site.
As weinformally advised the committee staff last week. the results of
the very recent tests of the bods burdens of the people living on
Bikint Island show a stenificant merease in such burdens. While at
may be arguable wether the test results show “an immediate danger.”
we in the Departinent of the Interior are satisfied that the people
should be moved from Bikimt Psland as soon as it is possible to do so,
Wehave asked the representatives of the Department of Energyto
discuss with vou the radiological situation on Bikini and its implications for the people on Bikini IsJand. and they will do so in 2 moment.
Then the High Conunissioner and To want to discuss with you our plans
for the move of the people from Bikini Island.
NEED TO RECAST BIKINEREMABILITATION PLANS
Tinust tell van now, however, that we have suddenly been required
to reenst our preliminary plans ina very major way, Phe committee
will reenll that when we testiticd before vou a month ago, we antici
pautedoon the hisis of the best information chen available to us fron
the Department of Energy. that if at were necessary to move the
people of Baking [sland roan alternative. safe site, we could expect
thatthe nearby island of Ene would be avaihtble for that purpose.
Last Thursdiay we learned that tests of a limited sample of foodstitts growing®’on Eneu showed an uptake of radionuclides much in
excess of thoee predicted on the basis of the known cesium and strontinme content of the soi Accordingly, we have conclided that we must
eHoonate nen as an alternative site, and we have thus revised sab-
stantially the plans for temporary settlement. We will outline those
planus to vor after the Energy Department discussion of the radiowetivity situation on Bikini aud neu,
‘To assist us in onr discusion of our relocation plains, there are present
with me this morning. in addition to High Commissioner Winkel,
his District, Administrator for the Marshall Islands District, Oscar