24 



KISTE 



that Enewetak has done enough. We have sacrificed 

 enough and PACE should not be continued because it only 

 means further destruction of our homeland. [Office of the 

 Judge Advocate Pacific Air Forces, 1973.] 



The legal suit was never brought to trial as the DOD 

 cancelled the PACE project soon after the public hearings 

 (Kiste, 1976). 



That the magistrate and not the chiefs spoke for the 

 people reflected the changes that had occurred in their po- 

 litical organization. By the time of the PACE affair, further 

 change had occurred because the process of electing coun- 

 cilmen had been altered. In elections subsequent to 1967, 

 the 12 councilmen were elected from the population at 

 large and not half from the Enewetak and half from the 

 Enjebi sides of the community. It appeared that the old 

 division between the two sides had lost some of its mean- 

 ing. 



RETURN TO ENEWETAK 



After the PACE affair, the people exjjerienced some 

 reversals. Radiological surveys revealed that some islands 

 of Enewetak Atoll are more heavily contaminated by 

 radioactive debris than previously thought, and they can- 

 not be inhabited for decades to come. In 1976, after 

 extensive radiological surveys, it was determined that 

 Enewetak Island and several others on the atoll's eastern 

 rim could be partially restored with reasonable safety. The 

 U. S. Congress provided funds for their cleanup and reha- 

 bilitation. The full-scale cleanup effort began in late 1977. 

 The Enewetakese were consulted in the planning and some 

 were employed to help with the work. The cleanup of 

 Enewetak Atoll, the construction of dwellings and commu- 

 nity buildings, and extensive replanting was completed in 

 1979, and the atoll was officially returned to the people in 

 April 1980 (Figs. 5 and 6). The event was celebrated by 

 virtually the entire papulation with 542 people attending. 



Fig. 6 Iroij Joannes Peter signing documents returning Enewetak Atoll to the liEnetoetak and riEngebt. Enewetak Atoll, 

 September 16, 1976. [Photo by Janet Lamberson.] 



