MARSHALL
ISLaNDS RAQTOLCGICAL
S.A. Greenhouse and 7 .
ui
@alths Physics
and Safacy Division,
Divisioa of Coeracional Salretvy, 2.5.
Srooknaven
.
wat
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POLLow2”
. Metz aw
ona. Lasoracsry, Tocoa, iow are Li973
and
inergy Research and Sevelcoagenc Acministracicn, Wasnington, 9.C.
29543
ADStract
Ia dugusc, 1348, Presicens Jonnson amzounced that ine seo0le of 3ikiai Acail would de aole 23 rarura 70
the: : xcmeland.,
Thera rear,
wallar avorcval waS given for
the ratura of the seonoles of Enewetax,
Thesa
cwO Degions, wmich compriseq the Paciiic Nuclear Testing areas crom 13946 to 1338, will arsoably se ras00utated Ov the ariginal iahapicancs ang thesr families within cne next vear.
As cart of its continuing
FesDIaAsiSaLiicy 29 ungsura the suzlic neaicn ana safany .n connection vion che auclaar srtgrans uncer its
spoasotsnis, ERDA (lormeriy A=C) has cometactad Jrccknaven Yatronai Caporacory to ascadlisa cadiciogical
3afacvy and anvironmencai tonitoring arcgrams for che veeurning 3ikini and Inewetax ceoclas.
These 2r2gtams are Jescrived ia tne
following paver.
Thev are cesizgnea <9 ¢afine the axternal radiaciuo anvironmeat, assess cadiacion doses irom
internal emicsers in che human feed cnain, make long range oredictions
3t tocal doses ana dose
csumicnents 15 isaiviaquais and te eacn sopulacion zgrouo, and to suzzgest actions
wnica will minimize doses via che more signizicant satnwars.
Tacroducrion
The 3.5, auclaar cascing arograms of the 17403 ana 1350s had signsZicans Local anvirsomencal impaccs oan
ehe coral atoillia of 3ikins ind Inewecax .n ihe Marshali Isiands.
The high iavel close-in fallour tace
rhese acollsa uninhadicaoie far many years.
falloue from
the 3RAVO evens, whicn tsok glace af 3ékini in
1354, vas w.nadvercencl; ieposiz3d jn ine nesarsy acolis of Rongelan, Rangearix and Velssk.
fa all, some
emiccteen accils .a the tortnera Marshalls weve grooagiy arfectad 23 a graacer cr Lasser axtent oy Zallouc
from these ntuclear tests.
Jf these, acwever, ine zost significane Long term
radfoicgical impace vas
om tha cese acolis, 3Jikin. and inewacax, and on Rongelap Acoil.
ta L987, Rongelao was reoccupied Sy irs original tanaotnancs who had 3een evacuated wo days aftar
3RAVG.
During the sast several vsars, tefiaicive glans cave [een sade 59 repatriace she origina. ianabicants 3f£ 3f{kini and Znewecax Atolls, and the1r camaiies.
it (£3 hoped shat cheir rectum can take glace 300n.
In order +9 ftdeneiSy radiological prooiems frem vesiduai radicaceivity in che anvirsomenct, and fo
stovide a daca base for dose srediccions apolicaoble co =the returming pepulace, ERDA (and its orecacessor,
che azC), has svonsored many cadiological surveys in the Marshall [slands,
These surveys segan during
‘est operaticas and iave Seen coucuctad periodically uo to she sresenc time.
Jssulss of che surveys Aave
yeen sublishea in sumercus resorts and scientific ‘ournals.
References \. shrougn 12 are sublished rsnorcs;
of AEC/ERDA asunported surveys of these acoils.
References 13 shrough °9 are a portion of tne suolisned
tTeporcts ca work wich coliecced envirommencal samples supported 3v AcC/ERDA.
Evaluation of survey resulcs for 3ikini Atoll, she comsideracton of predicsad exposures compared wich
applisapla vadiacion scandards, and the ackmowledgemenc cf the many senefizs to che seoole if they could
return, .ed 29 che decision to claan uo and ranabilisace chac atoli,
The Department sf Jefanse, Jepare-
ment of the Iarertor (DOL), and AzcC (now IRDA) parcicipaced ia a ‘oine effort of clean up and rehadilica=
sion of 3ikind Acoll starting in february, 559.
Clean cp was compleced tn the iall of hac year.
culcural renaorlitacion and aousing comseructisna is beicg conducted dy COI.
The decision ro recurn the Znewecaxese 79 cheiz acoll
Agric
led to a comprenensive survey conducted ac
Zmewerax ta 197221973.6°9)
4 tegional survey slammed for 1975 will provide Saseiiae cadfalogical dara
Zor Sacure dose assessmencs throughout tearly all of the northern Marshall Islands which asy lave een
affected by che testing program.
favircamencal evaluacions a¢ Rongelap and Jeirix Acolls nave Seen undertaken veriodically {a agsocitarion with 732DA's medical evaluacitons program chere over the jasc 20
years, \-0-42)
From ail of these earlier surveys, 10 Secame apparenc hac periodic environmencal aontsoring and jose
assessments sust >¢ made Zor 3ikini, Zeewecak, longeiap 2nd serhaps ocher atolls ia che sottnern Marsaails
so meincain a currence radiological daca case and to srovide current iaformacion on iadividual and scpusation doses,
This
iallowun momicoriag is 3e1ng verfovsed by 3rockhaven ‘iacional Laooratory 46 ine
reques¢ of the Jivision of Oserac:onal Jafaey, 5.5. faergy Research and Tevelooment Acuinisctratior.
Research carried ouc ac 3c0ckhaven Nacicnal Laboracory under she auspices of che J. 3. inerzy Ras@arcn and Tevelcoment Acminiscration.
fy accepcance of chis artiste, the sublisher and/or veciptenc
acknowledges the J.5. Grvermmenc's vigne co cacaic a sonexclusive, foyaicy-free itcense in and co aay
cOvYTigne coveriag i513 Daper.
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