AOlIae
REPORT OF THE AD HOC COMMITTEE TO EVALUATE
THE RADIOLOGICAL HAZARDS OF RESETTLEMENT OF THE BIKINI ATOLL
The Committee was convened to consider the question of
whether the Bikini Atoll is safe for human habitation with
respect to the radiological hazard.
The detailed history of
the various relocations of the Bikini natives is described
in the appended material provided by Mr. Tobin (Appendix I)*.
We have examined the documents listed in Appendix II.
addition, we spent one and one-half days in detailed discus-
sions with members of the 1967 Bikini Survey Team and other
experts as shown in Appendix III.
On the basis of the infor-
mation provided, we have reached the following conclusions
and recommendations:
1.
The exposures to radiation that would result
from the repatriation of the Bikini people do not
offer a significant threat to their health and
safety.
2.
Such exposure may and should be further reduced
by the following simple measures:
,
a.
Restrict rehabilitation for the present to
the islands of the Bikini-Eneu complex.
(Appendix IV)
b.
Establish the first village and immediate
food crops on Eneu.
No radiological precautions will be needed on Eneu because of its
very low contamination level.
(Appendix V)
c.
Any village construction on Bikini Island
should involve the covering of the site with
coral rock as is the local custon.
d.
e.
f.
Radioactive scrap metal should be removed from
the islands adjacent to former shot sites.
The population of land crabs should be sharply
reduced because of their high content of
strontium 90,
If pandanus trees which produce edible fruit
are planted on Bikini Island, two inches of
topsoil should be removed from the planting
sites.
The area of removal from each site
should be equal to the area covered by the
crown of mature trees,
(more)
In