. » ~ » . . - . ’ MAY 8, VU1S28 REPORT ON ACTIONS TAKEN IN GAO REPORT, PSAD-79-54, 1979, “ENEWETAK ATOLL--CLEANING UP NUCLEAR CONTAMINATION" RDORESSED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Recommendations and Comments I. Need to consider compensation for lost land or lost land usage as a resuit of nuclear tests A Task Force established by the Office for Micronesian Status Negotiations is examining this issue and until a final report and recommendations are available, comment is withheld. JI. Loss of copra “cash crop" The Master Plan for the Enewetak Rehabilitation called for the planting of 14,000 coconut trees in certain of the northeastern islands of Enewetak Atoll]. The planting of the northern islands was primarily for copra production and was to be a major source of future revenue for the people of Enewetak. The GAO report notes that the planting of coconuts on these northeastern islands has been delayed because of the Bikini experience and is now awaiting results of a new soil analysis of the northern islands. A new survey commenced in March 1979, and preliminary results are expected to be available in mid-July. The Department of the Interior hopes that the July test results will enable a decision to be made as to the timing of the planting of the istands in question. The GAO report additionally points out that should the cash crop copra be contaminated with radioactive elements in excess of acceptable limits, or should the planting of coconuts be delayed, the people of Enewetak and the United States should agree on how such an event is to be handled. Matters to be resolved are --the particulars of testing cash crop coconuts for radioactive elements uptake; --the method of disposal if the copra is found to be unacceptably contaminated with radioactive elements; and --the amount of compensation, if any, for such loss. The Department has not, as yet, made the decision that planting should be done in contaminated areas and, at this stage, is not prepared to offer solutions to the above questions. - There is no question, however, that should the 14,000 trees not be-planted, arrangements for compensating the people for loss of potential copra revenue must be worked out.