GINSBURG. FELOMAN, WEIL AND BRESS Mr. Hal L. Hollister October 16, 1980 Page Two - safe site, we could expect that the nearby island of Eneu would be available for the purpose. Last Thursday we learned that tests of a limited sample of food-stuffs growing on Eneu showed an uptake of radionuclides much in excess of those predicted on the basis of the known cesium and strontium content of the soil. Accordingly, we have concluded that we must eliminate Eneu as an alternative site, and we have thus revised substantially the Plans for temporary settlement." Hearings on 1978 Second Appropriations Bill Before the Subcommittees of the House Committee on Appropriations, 95th Cong., 2d Sess. at 866 (1978) (hereinafter "“Hearings"). High Commissioner Winkel's statement, id. at p. See also 889. Following Mrs. Van Cleve's remarks, Joe Deal of DOE submitted data showing that cesium levels on Eneu were 5 to 6 times the previous estimates. He also stated that radiation measure- ments in six salt water wells on Eneu may have exceeded EPA standards. Hearings at 877. At the June 19 hearing, High Commissioner Winkel reported that he had met with the people living on Bikini Island and "explained to the people ... that Eneu Island ... was not con- sidered safe enough to allow their living on it at this time.... Hearings at 913. The Statement of Understanding signed by the U.S. Government on Kili on August 16, 1978 reflects this view: ",..[o]n the basis of the most recent scientific information, it appears that Eneu Island ment.” ... will ... be unavailable for settle- Eight months later, by letter dated May 15, 1979, Ruth Clusen, DOE Assistant Secretary for Environment, wrote to Under Secretary of the Interior Joseph stating unequivocally that Eneu could not be resettled for 20-25 years even with imported food: "The degree of uncertainty in estimating doses on Eneu Island is similar to that for Enewetak Atoll. Assuming, therefore, that Enewetak cri- teria are applicable to other similar situations