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scarce.

The results of a radiological resurvey of Bikini in 1964 by the
University of Washington's Laboratory of Radiation Biology indicated
that Bikini might be radiologically safe for permanent habitation.
A
request from the High Commissioner of the Trust Territories of the

Pacific to the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) in 1966, to rehabilitate

Bikini, resulted in an extensive survey of the atoll in the spring of
1967.
This survey emphasized external radiation measurements, including
in situ gamma-ray spectrometry, although some food items were collected
to supplement data from the 1964 survey.
The 1967 survey party included
personnel from the AEC's Health and Safety Laboratory, the Division of
Biology and Medicine (DBM), the U.S. Naval Radiological Defense Laboratory,
the Trust Territory, and the University of Washington.
The data were
summarized by DBM and were presented to a panel of experts (referred to
as the Ad Hoc Committee in this report) assembled by DBM for evaluation
of potential radiological hazards.
Most of the participants in the 1967
survey attended the presentation to provide details not included in the

summary.

The Committee concluded that Bikini could be safely reoccupied, but
recommended some simple measures that should be instituted to reduce
exposure to radiation.
These included reduction of the coconut crab

population (because they contain high concentrations of 90Sr) and cover-

ing the village area at Bikini Island with coral gravel from the beaches.
The latter is consistent with local custom.
The Committee also recommended that old structures and other such debris from the tests be removed
from the islands and beaches and that Bikini Island be further monitored
during the clean-up.
Additional monitoring was necessary because dense
vegetation on Bikini and Eneu Islands, especially, made it impractical
to survey more than a few transects across the islands in 1967.
The Committee's recommendations were made to the Chairman of the

AEC who informed the Secretary of the Interior, the Administrator for
the Trust Territory of the Pacific.

2,

CLEAN-UP OF BIKINI ATOLL

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The clean-up pnasu or oithe rehabilitition of Sikini Ato Li, @ coopi
erative effort by AEC anc Department of Defense, was begun in February 1965

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