: eT Vide comtethe bw hae bse cick . ni 87 H O = ===""'y JOINT COMMITTEEMWDMIC ENERGY COMMISSI ATOMIC ENERGY Pleasé initia __and|returnto to JCAE WASHINGTON25, D.C. = ° | Chteman April 1, 1957 \ Honorabie Carl T. Durham Chairman, Joint Committee on Atomic Energy Congress of the United States on 7 ed Dear Mr. Durham: After the relatively heavy fallout on the Marshall Islands March l, 1954, 82 inhabitants were evacuated first to Kwajalein and to Ejit where they are now living. There have been public statements, concurred in by the Atomic Energy Commission, Department of Interior and the Department of State to the effect that these people will be returned to theirhome Island of Rongelapas soon as health considerations permit. Such a statement was submitted to the 17th Session of the U. N. Trusteeship Council Subcommittee of Petitions, March 27, 1956 by Mr. Vernon D. McKay, Special Representative of the Administering Authorities for the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. Severalradiological surveys of the Marshall Islands, especially Rongelap Atoll, have been made during the past two and one-half years. The latest survey (July 23-24, 1956) indicates a presence of a residual contamination on the Island of Rongelap, butat a level that is acceptable froma health point of view, both for the potential external gamma radiation exposure and the strontium-90 content in the food supply, with the possible exception of land crabs. Therefore, the position of the Atomic Energy Commission is that the Rongelapese could he returned to their hame iceland se