tn 1968, President Johnson autrorized the raturna of 3ikini Atoll <o
its
orizinal inhabitants, nost 2f whom were living on Kili Island about 500 niles
to the south of Bikini Atoll.
A similar authorization was ziven for the Ea-
ewetak people who had been aoved to Ujelang prior to th
atoil.
-:esting at their home
Because of the residual radioactivity at Bixini and Enewetak,
en-
viroamental monitoring programs were established to assure the people that the
low-level radiation exposures (which residents would receive from living ina
these places) remain within acceptable limits.
The dose-equivalent limits are
those recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection
(IC22)
for people not occupationally exposed to radiation.
The U.S. Department of Energy had assumed the old Atomic Energy Con-
mis-ion's commitment
to provide continuing followup for the medical and en-
vironmental problems caused by the Pacific testing programs.
3eginning ia
March 1954 to the present, the Brookhaven medical team has provided medical
care and radiation protection guidance to the exposed population.
They
studied internal radioactivity levels through radiochemical analysis of urine
and blood and through whole-body counting.
Since the logistical support for
Brocxhaven medical team visits to Rongelap and Utirik had been established, it
seemed reasonable to have the environmental and radiological safety assess~
ments done by the Safety and Environmental Protection Division of Brookhaven
National Laboratory as well.
The Safety and Environmental Protection Division undertook environ-
mental measurements for radioactivity as early as 1974.
In 1973, whole-body
counting and radiochemical analysis of biological samples were transferred
from the Medical Department to this division.
At present, the program