news  release Minister for Environment, p?7/48

Housing  and  Community Development

SURVEY OP MONTE BELLO ATOMIC TEST SITES

A field party of Commonwealth and State scientists and

Army personnel will next week check contamination levels at the

sites of the 1952 and 1956 atomic tests in the Monte Bello Islands.

The Minister for Environment, Housing and Community

Development, Mr Ray G r o o m ,  said today the new radiological survey,

planning fÃÂÃÂ which had begun several months a g o , was one of a

series Of regular checks of radioactive levels on the Islands.

Earlier surveys had been carried out in 1962, 1968

and 1972. .

The scientists, drawn from the Australian Radiation

Laboratory of the Commonwealth Department of Health and the

W.A. Department of Public Health, would spend five days carrying

out the survey of the test sites and surrounding ar e a s .

Mr Groom said this work was being done on behalf of the

Australian Ionising Radiation Advisory Council (A I R A C ).

Army engineers and siirveyors would check what work was

necessary to repair or re-erect fences and warning signs in the

a r e a .

AIRAC would use the information from the latest survey

to advise the Government on the future management of the area.

The Minister for Defence,  Mr D.J. Killen made reference

to the visit in Parliament ori 11 October 1978.

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