US scientists note: “The habitation of these people on the island will afford most valuable ecological radiation data on human beings.”ġ958: Rates of Rongelap miscarriages and stillbirths twice the rate of unexposed women.ġ963: First thyroid tumors begin to appear.ġ971: Independent Japanese medical team invited by Rongelap magistrate denied permission to visit by US citing “visa problems”.ġ976: Report finds 69% of the Rongelap children who were under 10 in 1954 have developed thyroid tumours.ġ984: Marshall Islands senator Jeton Anjain requests Greenpeace to help evacuate.ġ985: Rainbow Warrior makes three trips to evacuate the Rongelap community to the Mejato and Ebeye islands on the Kwajalein Atoll.ġ986: Nuclear test compensation approved, setting aside a $US150 million trust fund.ġ989: United States Department of Energy continues to insist Rongelap safe for habitation.ġ994: Independent scientific study finds that depending on dietary restrictions, 25 to 75% of Rongelap population would exceed the 100 mrem maximum annual exposure limit set.Ģ000: Marshall Islands government submits Change of Circumstances petition asking for significantly more compensation than the $US150m.Ģ005: Bush Administration states it has no legal responsibility to provide additional nuclear test compensation.Ģ007: The Nuclear Claims Tribunal awards Rongelap more than $1 billion as fair damages for its land damage claim, however, since the $US150m trust fund is almost completely depleted this compensation can never be paid.Ģ009: United States government wants an end to commitments for compensation with Rongelap. Islanders have vomiting, diarrhoea, skin burns and later their hair falls out.ġ957: Atomic Energy Commission declares Rongelap safe for re-habitation. March 3, 1954: US evacuates Rongelap island to Kwajalein Atoll. March 1, 1954: United States detonates 15 megaton hydrogen bomb despite knowing fallout will hit Rongelap. Komol Luc and Jackie! Nuclear Timelineġ946: United States Navy evacuates Bikini Atoll Islanders to make way for nuclear weapons tests. Luc Callebaut and Jackie Lee of the Yacht Sloepmouche kindly gave me permission to include his videos on my site. NOTE: The images in the above slideshow were taken in early 2017 by Lanny and Ginger of the yacht SwiftSure. “They should be completed over the next six to nine months,” Matayoshi said at the time. Matayoshi said the Interior officials expressed confidence in the construction work underway that will see 50 new homes built. While on the island, the group broke ground for a new elementary school. Mayor James Matayoshi welcomed the visit and especially the presence of then Deputy Assistant Secretary of Interior Tony Babauta and Director of Insular Affairs Nicolao Pula. Late in 2011, a number of US Interior Department officials, a US Embassy official, and local leaders visited Rongelap to inspect progress on housing and power projects that are intended to lead to the resettlement of the atoll (see photo below). It is historically notable for its close proximity to US hydrogen bomb tests in 1954, and was particularly devastated by fallout from the Castle Bravo test. Rongelap is one of the so-called four nuclear-affected atolls.

Mayor: James Matayoshi (Phone: 625-7177) Nitijela Member: Kenneth Kedi

Number of Islets: 61 Population: 79 (2011) Land Area: 3.07 square miles Lagoon Area: 387.77 square miles Yacht permit fee: You have to buy a permit for Rongelap Atoll and Rongerik Atoll.

Rongelap atoll