UNCLASSIFIED
COM FIDENTIaL
VWnile this was going on the Radsafe Officer and his team were making
their survey with radiac instruments aN/PDR-27E,
The first readings taken
were op the seaward side of the island where intensities of 110 mr (with
and without bete shield) were found. Readings of 120-130 mr (with and witnout shicld) were indicated along the foct path connecting the seaward side
of the island to the village on the lagoon side.
Upon arrival at the villege,
several natives were monitored witn the following readings common to ail; over
all body 100 mr (with and without shield), hands 100 mr (with and without
srield), gonads 105 mr with shicld and 110 mr without shield, feet 115 mr
with shield and 120 mr witnout shield.
Since the readings in the air over
the entire middle section of the island was 100 mr, it is believed that the
100 mr readings stated in this report were due to background intensity effects.
Other items monitored in the village and their intensities were; thatched
roofs 125 mr with shield, 130 mr without shield, 4 water samples from wells
100 mr with and without shield, all food with exception of coconuts 100 mr
with arfiwithout shicid, coconuts in tneir various forms of preperation ranged
from 130-150 without shield, fish cleaning table 124 mr with shieid, 130 mr
without shield. A short ficld trip was made into the undergrowth and grass
areas Surrounding the village whcreé readings of 160 mr with shield, 170 mr
without shield, were found close to the ground, indicating concentrated and
trapped contaminatinr particles, The monitor made his way via projecting
corel pieces some 10 yards into the lagoon where the water gave 2 50 mr read-
ing with and without the shield.
The hospitalmen was assigned the task of
collecting water samples and succécded in obtaining 4 samples of drinking
water from 4 of the most commonly used cistermm reservoirs in the villege.
is believed that the very low contamination of the water was due to the
roofs over each res-rvoir.
It
Upor. arriving at the village the uxecutive Officer with Trust Territor;
official again informed the natives through the interpreter of the necessity
for evacuation.
The
interpreter was asked not to scare the natives or unduly
rush them. Nevertheless, he had the floor ard after a few words, the natives
really moved though it is not believed he shook them up too badly. It was
carefully expleined that we would take along their pigs, chickens, dogs, boats
or anything we could load. But after a conference with the Trust official
in which the degree of contamination, decay and ultimate returmof the natives
were discussed, it was decided, on recommendation of the official, to leave
tne livestock and boats behind.
Tne natives agreed to this and after being
reassured that their posScssions and animals would be séfe until their return,
began streaming toward the evacuation beach.
Possessions taken along rarely
exceeded two bundles each, and one of which was usually a woven bedding mat.
CONFIDENTI«L
COFIED/DOE
LANL RO ~
b
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UNCLASSIFIED
ENCLOSURE (1)