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July 23, 1977
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177
Dr. Hal Hollister
Deputy Assistant Administrator
Office of the Assistant Administrator
for Environment and Safety
Energy Research and Development Administration
Washington, D.C.
20545
Subject:
Dear Dr.
G
ee
Rehabitation of Enewetak and Bikini and Behavioral
Response to Safety Recommendations
Hollister:
Dr. William J, Bair, Manager of Battelle's Pacific Northwest
Environmental and Safety Research Laboratory,
strongly rec-
ommended that I correspond with you concerning current reha-
bitation efforts occurring on the Enewetak and Bikini atolls
in the Marshall Islands.
Processes and consequences of relocation and rehabitation of
communities, especially culturally diverse groups, have concerned me for some time. As I emphasized in my enclosed
overview, the culture and life style of relocatees are dramatically altered.
Home and work patterns must be adjusted
to accommodate life styles in the new community.
Interpersonal
conflicts typically emerge causing emotional difficulties.
Admittedly, issues of this kind are complex, and frankly,
not well understood by social scientists.
The status of
Marshall Island groups on Enewetak and Bikini appears to fit
this pattern and we fully expect long-term adjustment problems
to occur.
Rehabitation of the Marshall Island conmunities on Enewetak and
Bikini presents unique difficulties not ordinarily experienced
by people returning to their homelands.
Specifically, the
radiation fallout resulting from the 46 different nuclear tests
in the late forties and fifties are introducing problems with
attendant biological risks.
Monitoring of radiological levels
by ERDA indicates that "hot svots” still exist.
Furthermore,
many forms of existing flora and fauna are considered nonedible
thereby restricting the diet of the natives.
Variable levels of radioactivity have already created some
problems for a small number of Bikinians.
Tests revealed
that many had increased body burdens of cesium-137 caused by