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The Honorable Peter Coleman, Acting High Commissioner Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands Saipan, Mariana Islands 9695Q A s you know there have been certain complaints about health care by the people living on Uti rik and Rongelap Atolls. The purpose of this letter is to solicit your advice and assistance with regard to a course of action for an extended health care program for the people on these two atolls,as well as the people returning to live at Bikini and Eniwetok and the organiz ation of a meeting with the Marshallese to discuss these proposals. ERDA has sponsored and strongly supported the team of doctors carrying out special medical examinations on these people over the past22years. It i s our belief that most of the present complaints are based on misunderstandings and that it should be possible to clarify and resolve the issues t o everyone's satisfaction. Accordingly, a meeting was held at ERDA headquarters on September 23, 1976, to discuss these matters. The meeting was attended by Drs. Conard and Kotrady from the examining team and other represent at ives from Brookhaven National Laboratory, ERDA and the Department of Interior. The following proposals were agreed upon: 1. Though there i s no likelihood that any detectable radiation effects inthe unexposed people living on Rongelap and Uti rik will develop, and though these people have had the opportunity of being examined and treated by doctors of the medical team, both a t the time of the annual surveys and on quarterly visits of the Resident Physician, a special effort would be made to systematically examine and treat all the people, including children, living on these atolls who wish t o be examined. The exposed Rongelap and Uti rik people and the unexposed Rongelap control group, as in the past, would receive special examinations for radiation effects and this group would continue to be entitled to the benefits of Congress of Micronesia's PL 5-52 as outlined in the agreement between ERDA and 2. It isnot expected that there will be any detectable radiation effects in the people of Bikini and Eniwetok returning to live in the designated areas of their atolls. Therefore, no special examinations for radiation effects are considered necessary in these people. However, i n view of possible psychological effects of living on these atolls,itis considered advisable to broaden their general healthcare in order to reassure these people. Such healthcare would include an annual medical checkup in addition t o being seen at sick call on a regular basis. Routine checks of urine for radioactivity and whole body radiation measurements (non-medical procedures) would continue as before. Such continuing checks in sure that any unexpected increase in radioactivity would be detected long before any hazardous levels were accumulated i n personnel. The detection of minute amounts of plutonium
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The Honorable Peter Coleman and several other radio nuclides in some of the Bikini and Rongelap residents isnot considered to present a hazard. found i n people all over the world, including New York City. involved in the internal absorption of the isotopes are being investigated. Low levels of these isotopes are ERDA would continue to be responsible for treatment of radiation - related diseases that develop inthe exposed people of Rongelap and Uti rik. This includes specialized examination and treatment when necessary i n hospitals outside the Trust Territory.All other treatment of individuals living on Rongelap, Uti rik,Bikini and Eniwetok that cannot be accomplished by the examining medical team will continue t o be the responsibility of the We would like to propose a meeting inthe near future, perhaps by early December, a t Ma,j:urr, , Ebeye or possibly Honolulu with representatives of Uti rik, Rongelap, Bikini and Eniwetok (perhaps the magistrate and a Council member from each atoll) and representatives of the Congress of Micronesia, Brookhaven National Laboratory, ERDA, Department of Interior, and the Trust Territory. We believe that such a meeting could result in agreements which would allow t h e medical examinations t o proceed unhampered. We would appreciate hearing from you about these proposals a t your earliest