Gaara DOE ARCHIVES {TE RY LEASE : \ | vs ts GY War? sae 4 Pa og ON ue re 1a, “= THE WHITE HOUSE — ‘yecident ieahnouncedi today thet nlans cre underway to permit the people of Bikini to return to their home atoll in the Ma ‘sha lIsiands. A special committee of consultants has reported to the Atomic Energy Commission that Bikini Atoll, site of more than 20 nuclear tests between 1946 and 1958, is again safe for human habitation. The Defense Department has reported after a special study that the return of the people is consistent with security requirements. inuing There will be a requirement for the use of some sites on the atoll and there may be é need. for Defense Department personnel to be stationed on the islands from time to timc. These uses will not prevent the return of the people nor the re-establishment of their normal way of life. € moved to make way for nuclezr tests, about 150 persons lived on Le’ ior g bea m5 i tS Lis a ring of 26 coral islands, 25 miles long and 15 miles wide, thwestern fringe of the Mar“shalt islands. Before 1946, when the Biki- ay i They moved first to Rongerix Atoli and since 1948 have lived on tne southern Mershall Isiande. Fae Kili population is now about 300. £ about 500 people repard Bikiai as their traditional home, including me who work and live on other islands. Not all are expected to seek o . 408350 a Meee aoe fae eee ee ee eet eens 326 wu... yt \ | RGCOMINASSION ££ AUGHST 12, 1968 i Office of the White House Press Secretary . on (Austin, Texas) we _. . Secause of the dense overgrowth of the islands and the lack of any substantial antity of foodstuffs growing on the atcll, an extensive clearing and replanting program will be required. in addition, housing and community facilities, such-esa School, dispensary, and a water collection system, will be needed before ikinians can return from Kili. “ne Bikini peopte will actively participate in botn the planning a gee of the resettlement program. The High Commissioner of the Trust Perritery has been asked to request the Bikini people to name a group of their seacers to work with Trust Territory Government personnel and representatives 9 cr | Soe tet, aqme, ~ TRE pee oggheet sk ee of the United States Government in devcloping a comprehensive resettlement Siek. This work is scheduled to begin With a visit to the atoli within the next sew weeks by a team composed of Bikini eee and personnel frorn tne Trust Territory Government, the Defense and Interior Departments and the Atomic Energy Commission. the intent of the United States and the Trust Territory Government to work with the Bikini people in building e modern and model community on their atoll.