Mrs. Ruth G. Van Cleve
Director
a
Office of Territorial Affairs
FOL7BS
July
19,
1979
F
U.S. Department of Interior
Washington,
Dear Mrs.
D.C.
Van
20248
Cleve;
Thank you for your letter of June 26,
had
in Washington June 13,1979”
1979 concerning the meeting we
It appears to me that the notes you enclosed accurately describe the
points discussed at the meeting.
However, there is one minor correction
and that is Mr. Tarlekebol went as Henchi Balos's staff member rather
than a "“Bikini/Kili Council Member\'
Also, pertaining to part 19 an page 5, the point that Mr. Wiespall made
is that those people tested on Bikini by the Whole Body Counter may have
been contaminated on Ronglap rather than Bikini.
I am referring to
internal contamination from local foods grwn on Ronglap.
FEneu, Bikini
and the southern islands of Ronglap are identical in radiation hackerroun
levels (G) according to the latest'tRADIOLOGICAL SURVEY OF THE NORTHER
MARSHALLS".
Of the 156 people removed from Bikini 25 had heen living
on Ronglap before they migrated to Bikini in 1975,
This was about the
time a sudden jump was noted in the Whole Body Counter tests at Bikini
which was attributed to coconut trees becoming productive.
['m concerned that it may have been caused by the 25 people from Ronglap who
had been ingesting radionuclides since 1957 when thev were returned to
Ronglap.
Their systens had the opportunity to accumulate radionuclides
for 18 vears prior to their migration to Bikini.
This brings up
another question.
Since Ronglap has more
or the same
level of Gama Rays being emitted as on Eneu (indicated by the 1978
RADIOLOGICAL SURVEY), why were the Ronglapese returned to their island
22 years ago and the Bikinians not allowed to return to [neu for another
25 years?
Both Eneu and Ronglap were contaminated by the same
have identical radiation levels.
tests
anil
Is there a double standard used here?
You will find enc¢ised a portion of the statistics I've compiled of the
T hope this information
people removed from Bikini in the Fall of 1979.
Most official repor’
Clarifies part 10 and the latest Bikini relocation.
I've seen, indicate that almost all removed from Bikini were Bikinian.
The Rikini/Kili Council released a
This is certainly not the case.
not to return to Bikini until
Bikinians
all
telling
directive in 1972
certain questions and request
were
there
as
so
do
they authorized them to
made to the T.T.
nosed to anyone
that were unresolved.
living
on Rikini
without
The Bikini/Kili Council was onptheir approval.
That may exnla
why so many people lining on Bikini werestnon-Bikinian and why all most a:
removed did not go to Kili to live.
;
It certainly was a pleasure seeing you again and an honer for me to atter
All corresnondence
the meeting held in your office June 13, 1979,
to him.
on
passed
heen
has
me
through
Tomaki
to
directed
sincerely y
saiaus
ever
|
"er
BEST COPYAVAILABLE