UNITED STATES
ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20545
Repository DOL
Chairman Schlesinger
COLLECTION
Comaissioner Larson
Commissioner Dewb
BOX No.
Commissioner Ramey
Commissioner Ray —
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ENIWETOK RADIOLOGICAL SURVEY |
This memorandum provides information regarding current activities on
Fniwetok Atoll. These activities concern the surveys essential to the
cleanup, rehabilitation, and resettlement of the atoll in connection
with the announced return of Eniwetok to the Trust Territory of the
Pacific Islands (TTPI).
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In April. 1947 the United Nations formally designated the former Japanese
Pacific Mandates (Eniwetok included) as Trust Territories to be administered by the United States. Upon written notification to the U.N.,
Fniwetok was designated a nuclear testing site in December 1947, with
the first test series there, SANDSTONE, being conducted in the spring
of 1948.
Prior to SANDSTONE, the Eniwetok people, about 136 in number,
were moved by the United States to Ujelang Atoll where they still reside,
although their number has now increased to about 432. Additional test
series were conducted in the atoll during the years 1951 (GREENHOUSE),
1952 (IVY), 1954 (CASTLE), 1956 (REDWING), and 1958 (HARDTACK - PHASE I).
The last of 43 tests was in July 1958.
All tests have been Listed publiciy.
Geographic location of the atoll is shown in Figure 1.
Its remoteness
suggests inherent costly operations to accomplish the necessary surveys
and subsequent cleanup. Figure 2 identifies the islands of the atoll
and general location of the nuclear tests conducted.
On April 18, 1972, High Commissioner Johnston and Ambassador Williams
jointly announced the intention of the United States to return Eniwetok
Atoll to the TTPE subject to retention of some minor residual rights.
Subsequently, the Department of Interior (DOI), Department of Defense
(DOD), and AEC determined that a comprehensive and coordinated program
to survey and clean up Enlwetok Atoll must be undertaken to make Eniwetok
hebitable. The program was divided into three phases:
(1) Pre-cleanup
Radiological and Engineering Survey, (2) Cleanup, and (3) Rehabilitation
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