DOCUMENT DOES NOTCONTAINECI REPOSITGRY PNNA . couection Niarsha || BOX No. FOLDER a sy A Reviewed by ¢ Xb Date HMOB/G? Tslands IG &S a wewe tal (¢77 July 23, 1977 jo- 7 e es bei AUGE a 409812 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