2.1.6 Meeting of September 1974
The first draft of the Master Plan (see Section 2.1.7) for resettlement of the Enewetak people on
their home atoll included plans for residential development on Janet (Enjebi). However, the AEC
Task Group Report stated that the group "has been unable to determine any way in which radiation
exposures can be brought within the acceptable criteria, that is both reliable and feasible, in order to
resettle Enjebi at the same time asislands in the south of the AtolL" A Draft Environmental Impact
Statement (DEIS) for the proposed cleanup of Enewetak was in preparation at the time the Task
Group Report was released in June 1974. The plan outlined in the DEIS was based on postponement
of the resettlement of Janet.
In recognition of the impact this development would have on the
people of Enewetak, the decision was made to release the Draft Statement to the public at the same
time that the Statement was presented to the people of Enewetak. The presentation was made to
the leaders of the Enewetak people at Enewetak in meetings held on 6 and 7 September 1974.
Lieutenant General Warren D. Johnson, Director, DNA, summarized for the people of Enewetak
events and actions that had occurred to that time.
Following descriptions of early surveys and
planning efforts, a movie was shown depicting the radiological] survey, in order that the people might
appreciate the extensive work upon which the AEC recommendations were based.
AEC
representatives presented a discussion of radiological conditions at Enewetak using slides which
ERDA, successor to AEC, later produced as a pamphlet for distribution to the Enewetak people
(ERDA, 1975). The Director, DNA, continued with explanations of the Engineering Survey, planning
for construction of residences, the Master Plan, and finally the DEIS. He explained that cleanup and
rehabilitation would be in accord with the Case 3 recommendations which precluded living, and
growing of certain foods, on the northernislands.
A numberof issues were raised during the course of the meeting, including:
1.
Some of the U.S. officials questioned whether it was "safe" to permit the return of a token
group to Japtan; whether the people could be relied upon to stay off Yvonne and the Northern
Islands. When the Enewetak Council learned of this they immediately convened and that very
night passed an ordinance, relevant portions of which are quoted below:
"WHEREAS the conditions existing on Enewetak Atoll require that certain safety
precautions be taken with respect to the movements and activities of the members
of the settlement and the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, the Department of
Interior and the Atomic Energy Commission have suggested certain precautions and
limitations in a memorandum to the Council on September 9, 1974, and
"WHEREASthe Council is in full agreement with those precautions and limitations,
"NOW THEREFORE THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCE IS ADOPTED:
"Section 1. This ordinance shall apply to ali persons residing or visiting on Japtan
Island, Enewetak Atoll, in connection with the temporary settlement there.
"Section 2.
No person shall visit or enter into that area in the northern or western
part of Enewetak Atoll bounded by Runit Island in the east and Biken Island in the
west and including all the intervening beach, island and reef areas."
"Section 6. This ordinance shall be enforceable by the District Administration and
violation thereof shall be punishable by a fine of One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) and
the Council pledges its full assistance in enforcement."
(Council, 1974.)
2.
AEC officials were asked by the representatives of the Enjebi people what could be done about
Enjebi and how soon. The AEC promised to continue studies.
3.
Enjebi people asked when Enjebi might be resettled. The AEC answer was, "We don't know, but
we will undertake studies to try to be able to answer the question within about five years."
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