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The Wanorable Charles A . Bowsher Comptroller General of the United States U.9. General Accounting Office Recently several federal agencies, including DOE, DOD, VA, and HHS, disclosed that: experimente, planned releases and other teato have been aonducted to determine, among other things, the effects of radiation on humans. Many of the human subjects involved in theee radiation events were cognleant of what was happening to them. However, lt appear8 fhat some of the subjects were not made aware of the algnlficance and potential danger of these radiation tests and experlmsnts. The administration, with DOE ae the main aponeor of these tests, is currently involvcrd in releases and axparimento that through lapaos in ocfonca or eth l ce etandards may have harmed individuals. and has hold hearinga, moat recently, on January 25, 1994 to diecuee the details of federally-sponsored radiation and other teste involving human eUbjOCtE, To help support the Committee*s I effort in this matter, I requent that the General Accounting Offloe (GAO) initiate an examination of tho adminiatration's plans for: 1) disclosing the details of the federally-spaneored radiation releasee and erperimante that involved human subjecta; 2) identifying and notifyfng thooe subjeate ( o r thelr ranllies): and 3) compensating thaae people who are determined to have been injured a# a reeult of there oxperimante. GAO's primary objectives in thia aosigment should be to: 1) underatand the adainintration'a overall plana to locate and analyze informatLon and then make public radiation-related releases and experimnte involvlng human subjects; 2) underatand issue; 3) determine whether these plane adequately address the full dieclooure of federally-sponsored radiation tests and experiments involving human subjects; 4) assess the ability and succeBa of the federal government in tndentlfying and notifying human eubjects; and 5) provlde an a e d e ~ ~ m e n tof other ralevant compensation proqrama, fncluding thoee establiehed for the an effort to idantify historical radiation testa, planned . . As you know, the Committee l a very Interentad in this irsue
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with respect to any lessons learned from thoso programs which might be applied to a compansatlon program for subjects of Committee on Human Radiation Experiments to provide advlae and reoonunendatlone to the Human Radiation Interagency Working Group on the ethical and scientific etandards applicable to human meetings of the worktng Qroup and Advlrrory Committee. Your examination ehould also include an aoseaement of the analytical plan or framework developed by the Advisory Committee to carry out its charge. I underntand that you staff h a s already had preliminary meetings w i t h DOE officials, and has.briated my OovernmentaL Affalra staff on your initial findfnga. I aleo understand that the scope OZ your inveatlgatlon may need to change 48 it proceeds; therefore, I would appreciate your staff providing regular updates to my araff as your inveetigatfon continues. Chris Kline i s m y point of contact; he may be reachea at 202-224As you may know, the Preafdent has appointed an Advisory I would expect GAO to closely monitor the Thank you for your continued assistance.
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0175.5(A-91)), prior to 0Ont.cting ZZ ZZZ s te in it i a to now Dofuus, atta tion DOD/OIG Diroator for QID Barmy. ud Rmvim. Th. OLO netifleation lottar .hould indieat. tho prinry .M of they bvo prop.rly .MouIIc.d air wrk via a notiriaation lottu should not k .Ch.dulod nor information roluS.6 until tho OAO has proporly announcod its work, unloss spa i al tolophono mr rw t gm monts b vo boon i.da through tho DoD/OIG Of fia o of OM) DoD Offiw of tho Xnapactor Gonual DoD/OIG Offiao of OM) Bur vry. ud Reviais I n addition t o tho OAO notification lott or .botn, tho W advanco of pmposod viaits by OM) ~.LMIIIW~V i 8 th. "lotico of Ouroral Accounting Offiw Visit. form in accordmnco with intornal provide a covy of tho visit notiem to +h. OOD/OIG Of fi em of OAL) .hould notify tho agency offiaials by pitom, -lain tho objoativo and n koa mri a to -. ll mr upon sibi lit y f o r assuring that 8 WLO t o r.vi.sr/rocoivo classified infomation rostm with tho individual in tho DoD providing tho information. bas tho propor cluranco
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should not provide the OM) W i t h a written n8ponme on 8uwmy or
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