Clean-up Costs could Exceed $3 Billion (1999)

Ongoing Environmental and Resettlement Challenges at Enewetak and Rongelap Atolls

The environmental and resettlement challenges facing Enewetak and Rongelap Atolls, sites deeply impacted by nuclear testing, continue to stir significant concern and debate. A recent scientific review conducted by Enviropro, a U.S.-based consulting group, sheds light on the potential costs and ecological ramifications of a proposed soil scraping cleanup at Enewetak Atoll. The report estimates that the cleanup could cost anywhere from $320 million to $3.9 billion, depending on the chosen method of soil removal.

However, the more alarming aspect of the report is its warning that such a cleanup could lead to an ecological disaster that might take 25 to 50 years to recover from, if at all. Enviropro’s analysis strongly advises against scraping contaminated soil, arguing that it could substitute a radioactive disaster with an ecological one. Despite these dire warnings, scientific consultants representing Enewetak have disputed Enviropro’s recommendations, indicating a significant divide among experts on how best to proceed with the atoll’s cleanup.

While the debate over Enewetak’s environmental future continues, the issue of resettlement for the displaced Rongelap people has reached a critical and contentious phase. A recent visit by U.S. Senate and House officials to the Marshall Islands has intensified discussions regarding the resettlement of Rongelap Atoll. The Rongelap Atoll Local Government (RALGov) has set an ambitious target date of October 1, 2011, for resettling the island, a decision that has sparked both support and concern within the community. During meetings on Mejatto, where many Rongelap residents currently live, some expressed a strong desire to return to their ancestral lands. However, others, including Rongelap Senator Kenneth Kedi, have voiced serious reservations about the safety of resettling the atoll due to lingering radiation concerns.

Senator Kedi highlighted that the original agreement between the U.S. government and Rongelap leaders, including Senator Jeton Anjain and Mayor Billiet Edmond, was for a comprehensive cleanup of all the islands within Rongelap Atoll, not just Rongelap Island itself. However, many of the smaller islands have not been adequately addressed, leaving parts of the atoll potentially unsafe for habitation. This unresolved issue has led to a divide within the Rongelap community, with some members advocating for a return home, while others remain wary of the health risks associated with the incomplete cleanup.

These ongoing disputes at Enewetak and Rongelap underscore the profound complexity of addressing the legacy of nuclear testing in the Marshall Islands. The balancing act between ensuring thorough environmental remediation and honoring the desires of displaced communities to return to their homelands remains a contentious and emotionally charged challenge. As these debates continue, they reflect broader issues of environmental justice, public health, and the long-term consequences of historical decisions, with the outcomes likely to shape the future of these communities for generations to come.

The narratives emerging from Enewetak and Rongelap serve as poignant reminders of the enduring impact of nuclear testing, not just on the environment but on the lives of the people who call these atolls home. The path forward will require careful consideration of both scientific assessments and the voices of the affected communities, as they seek to rebuild and reclaim their lands in a way that ensures safety, sustainability, and respect for their shared heritage.