a oe
940
LOCAL FOODS BANNED IN
1974
_Mr. Yarrs. We are now up to 1976. Let's go back to the interroga-
tion on page 1171:
“Mr. Yates. Were you still the AEC in 1976!
“Mr. DeaL We were ERDA in 1976.
“Mr. Yares. So vou became a little more alarmed than when you
were the Atomic Energy Commission. In 1976 you first encountered
this kind of a test. Is this an annual test that you had been making -
of the people f”
Of course, in retrospect now myquestion is not correct. because you
knew about it in 1974S. You knew about the water certainly in 1974.
In 1976 the coconuts were first becoming ripe. Mr. deBrum. together
with the Bikinians, was eating the coconuts. But you were not drinking the water f
Mr. DeBreas. Not the well water.
Mr. Yares. Were vou eating the pandanusin 1976!
Mr. DeBrra. Some people ate them.
Mr. Yates. They ate the pandanus. What else was growing there!
Mr. DeBrre. Papaya was growing on the island.
Mr. Yarrs. Papaya. Anything else !
Mr. DeBrra. Pumpkins,
Mr. Yates. Pumpkins?
Mr. DeBrox. Yes.
Ait. Mates. And people were eating al] of these things. all the vege:
tables!
Nir. DeBreu. We hed indication thatsome of themadmitted thev
ate them, sir.
Mr. Lats.
“at
t
Mr. DeBrear. Yes
Mr. Yatrs. And were vouwtold voy rere not toeat them!
.
Mr. DeBraun. Thev were told that ip sees qucsmonable sir. and not
toent them.
Celene
INITIATION OF TIP] FEEDING PROORAM
Mr. Yatrs. And all during the period starting in 1972, every month
a ship came to Bikini with food !
Mr. DeBrem. Yes.
Mr. Yates. And water?
Mr. DeBrem. No. no water.
Mr. Yates. Just food?
Mr. DeBaca. Yes.
Mr. Yares. So they were drinking the cistern water!
Yates. And o:vou
Mrr. YatesAng.
wa
Mr. Detrus. At times
There were y
SIv)
Mr. DeRreat.
Mr.
th
. Were
re_ rou
h food.
ore tried to supply them with enough.
Src
Yates. Sq inthe
cated thal tops.
Iving
were
supplying
BP. g them wit
.
4)
hadtoraicaconuich
eatingindi-
ATES. Thesed !
Mr. DeBrecs. Yese.
Mr. Yares. Whycould vou not get there in time?
DOE ARCHIVES
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