Locating Records of DNA Human Radiation Experiments

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MEMORANDUM FOR HEADS OF DIRECTORATES AND SEPARATE OFFICES COMMANDER, FIELD COMMAND, DEFENSE NUCLEAR AGENCY DIRECTOR, ARMED FORCES RADIOBIOLOGY RESEARCH SUBJECT: Locating Records of DNA Human Radiation Experiments REFERENCES: A. Memorandum from the Secretary of Defense, B. Memorandum from the Secretary to the Cabinet, The White House, Subject: Retrieval and Inventory of Records of Human Radiation C. Memorandum from the Assistant to the Secretary of Defense, (AE), Subject: Locating Records of DoD Human Radiation Experiments, 31 Jan 94 DoD Human Radiation Research Review, During the last week of December 1993, a major controversy arose regarding the United States Government's use of human subjects in Ionizing radiation research. On January 3, 1994, the White House called for the formation of a Human Radiation Experiment Interagency Working Group to coordinate the government-wide effort to uncover the nature and extent of any government sponsored experiments on individuals involving intentional exposure to ionizing radiation. On January 7, 1994, the Secretary of Defense issued Reference A, which directed the preservation of relevant records and designated the Assistant to the Secretary of Defense (Atomic Energy) (ATSD(AE)) to lead the Department of Defense (DoD) effort under the overall guidance of the Under Secretary of Defense (Acquisition and Technology) (USD(A8T)). On January 19, 1994, the Secretary to the Cabinet published Reference E, which provided government-wide guidance regarding the search for records. The ATSD(AE) implemented the government-wide guidance within DoD on January 31, 1994, by publishing Reference C. This document implements the DoD Neither DoD nor DNA were idle pending receipt of the government-wide guidance. On December 30, 1993, the General Counsel, DNA, chaired an initial planning meeting regarding the DNA effort. On January 4, 1994, the Directcr for Operations (DFOP) chaired the first meeting of the DNA Working Group.

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SUBJECT: Locating Records of DNA Human Radiation Experiments Participants were briefed on developments and given informal tarkings. Throughout this period, DFOP and the Director for Radiation Sciences (DFRA) attended a series of high-level meetings at DoD and the White House to develop the response of the Federal Government. with ATSD(AE1 and the DoD Legal Working Group to formulate the wide Command Center to manage, coordinate, and consolidate the DoD effort and provide information to the White House, Congress, the media, and affected citizens. It became apparent that require most of DFOP's time and effort. As an interim measure, the Director, DNA, at the DNA staff meeting on January 5, 1994, tasked the General Counsel to keep the DNA effort moving forward. On January 6, 1994, the General Counsel chaired a meeting of the DNA Working Group. The following taskings resulted: The DNA General Counsel worked closely The ATSD(AE) appointed DFOP as Director of a DoDand financial records to identify potentially relevant - Information Management Directorate (DFIM) in coordination with DFRA: Review materials available in the DNA Technical Library and at the DoD Nuclear Information Analysis Center to identify potentially relevant experiments. - Public Affairs Office (PAO): Review media reports, with priority going to recent reports, to identify allegations which involve, or might involve, DoD. - Inspector General (IG): Review General Accounting Office (GAO), Inspector General and other reports which might be helpful in identifying potentially relevant experiments. - Office of the Deputy Director (DDIR) and DFRA: Convene a meeting of senior scientific and medical personnel to identify potential sources of information (organizations, individuals, - Test Directorate (DFTD): Review available records to identify and describe the involvement of DNA and its predecessor agencies i n radiation dispersal experiments. - Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute (AFRRI): Review biomedical literature to identify potentially relevant experiments sponsored or conducted by DoD. - A l l : Review files and other materials available in immediate offices to.identify any potentially relevant

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SUBJECT: Locating Records of DNA Human Radiation Experiments High-level interest has continued unabated. The Principal Deputy ATSD(AE) testified at Senate hearings on January 13, 1994, and the ATSD(AE) and Director, DNA, testified at Senate hearings on January 25, 1994. Additional Congressional hearings are scheduled. The White House hosted a meeting of cabinet-level officials on of senior DoD officials on January 14, 1994, and the ATSD(AE) presided over the initial meeting of the DoD Steering Group on Interagency Group each Tuesday and the ATSD(AE) is conducting meetings of the DoD Steering Group each Wednesday. In the near future, the lead role for the DNA response will transition from the Office of General Counsel. You will be informed concerning any appropriate changes to the points of contact. The Secretary of Defense presided over a meeting The White House is conducting meetings of the The DNA search effort will include all available records of DNA and its predecessor agencies, the Defense Atomic Support Agency and the Armed Forces Special Weapons -Project. Records of the Manhattan Project are not included in the DNA effort because the biomedical research program was transferred to the then Atomic Energy Commission and most of the relevant records are now in the possession of the Department of Energy. However, if such records are discovered in the course of the DNA effort, they will be identified and made available to the Command Center and the Department of Energy. University of Health Sciences on 1 October 1993, it was previously part of DNA. Accordingly, AFRRI is included in the scope of the DNA search effort. Although AFRRI was transferred to the Uniformed Services The ongoing scientific and medical efforts in the Former Soviet Union deal with individuals previously exposed to radiation as a result of the nuclear weapons program of the Soviet Union and the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. These efforts are outside the scope of the DNA search. (Reference C ) guidance, records are not yet to be retrieved by DNA. Rather, the current effort is to identify potentially relevant experiments and the location of potentially relevant In accordance w i t h the White House (Reference B) and DoD W h i t e House search w i - 1 1 be conducted in accordance with the

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SUBJECT: Locating Records of DNA Human Radiation Experiments Questions regarding implementation will be directed to the General Counsel, DNA, telephone (703) 325-7681 (DSN 221-7681). Addressees are requested to provide a status report to the General Counsel not later than close of business, Wednesday, February 9, 1994. The status report should include, at a minimum, the following information: - To the extent to which available, the information required for the February 1 1 , 1994 report described in Reference C. - A description of the records and/or sources searched to - A description of the records and/or sources yet to be - An estimate of the time required to complete the effort defined by Reference C and this document. - Identification of any additional resources which you may require to complete this effort and any subsequent retrieval, review, declassification, and submission of relevant records. PROGRESS TO DATE. To avoid duplication of effort, the following information is provided regarding progress to the date of this memorandum. If this information is in error, please notify the General Counsel - AM. The review of available contracts and financial records was conducted using the following parameters: -- A n y titles which indicated either research or - experimentation that might involve humans or reflected the possibility of intentlonal dispersal of radiation; -- Any efforts sponsored by a DNA organization which -- Any contractors which might be expected to be The search produced a list of more than 100 contracts and has biological responsibilities in its charter; associated with such work (e.g., medical schools). financial actions which warranted further review. This review is currently underway with 7 contracts confirmed as involving human

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subjects and 16 additional contracts identified for priority Locating Records of DNA Human Radiation Experiments bibliographies at DNA and the DoD Nuclear Information Analysis Center were searched for citations at the union of ionizing radiation and biomedical studies. This produced a yield of approximately 1500 citations. Review of the citations for applicability produced a list of 100 reports for review. Examination of the reports resulted in the identification of 20 reports produced in the course of four projects. The technical literature review is still ongoing. Citations and bibliographies found in medical studies are being checked and records related to intentional releases of radiation are being sought. - PAO. The review of current media reports has been completed. A contractor will be hired to perform a comprehensive review of earlier media reports to assure that the DNA search is - IG. The IG search failed to disclose any relevant GAO or - DDIR/DFRA. The meeting of senior scientific and medical IG reports beyond those already known to DNA. personnel was conducted on January 12, 1994. Minutes of the meeting have been prepared and leads resulting from the meeting will be subjected to follow-up. - DFTD. Considerable information regarding the radiation dispersal experiments has been located. The search continues. - AFRRI. Review of the biomedical library has failed to disclose any relevant experiments not already known to DNA. However, AFRRI has located records related to the research conducted at the University of Cincinnati. AFRRI also has records related to the medical irradiation of patients. - All. Adminrstrative Services Division, DFIM, bas advised that they do not have indices to the retired records. Accordingly, i t is u p to the responsible directorates and separate offices to specifically identify the records which should be RELEASE OF INFORMATION. A n y requests for information from Congress should be referred to the Program Integration Offzce, telephone (703) 325-6978. A l l media inquiries and any Freedom of Information Act requests should be referred to the DNA Public Affairs Office,

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SUBJECT: Locating Records of DNA Human Radiation Experiments tvmtelephone (703) 325-7095. A l l other requests for information should be referred to t h e General Counsel, telephone (703) 325FOR THE DIRECTOR: