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Machine-read from the scan, so expect some errors. Lines that couldn’t be read are left out.
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Department of Energy Deputy Assistant General Counsel Department of Defense This is in response to your telephone request of June 14, 1979, to members of my staff for information relative to the recent past, current, and projected costs and general content of the continuing and anticipated Department of Energy ( 3 0 E ) programs in the Earshall Islands, The enclosed consists of a "best estimate" by the staff, In view of the nature of the programs, the fact that the direction and magnitude of future effort often depends upon conclusions resulting from continuing surveillance of the situation, and the expectation that future requests from various interested parties may significantly affect the program, it should be clearly understood that the enclosed cost estimates are considered as tentative only, As you well know, the present circumstances in the Marshall Islands are very fluid, and it i.s difficult to anticipate a wide spectrum of possible demands upon the programs which might alter the cost estimates, Furthermore, it should be noted that we have not included those programs which are not of a continuing nature and are considered to terminate within the next fiscal year (-e,g,,the 1 3 - a t o l l survey, support to the Defense Nuclear Agency for activities associated with the cleanup of Enewetak). I trust that this information is responsive t o your request, Please let me know if we can be of further assistance, - Assistant Secretary for Environment
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The Department of Energy program in the Marshall Islands consists o f medical, monitoring and assessment components, Past, current and estimated future operating costs (X 1000) Estimated manpower requirements v a r y between 4 0 - 5 0 of effort depending upon number of trips, specific needs, unanticipated requests, etc. It must be emphasized that it is extremely difficult to anticipate all possible needs and contingencies in the activities in the Flarshall Islands, Past and present experience shows that unexpected findings and unanticipated requests from various sources (e.g., the Marshall Islands Government, legal representatives for various groups of people) may significantly affect, alter or add to the projected program, While these issues have been included herein to the best of our knowlecige, additional efforts and requests are not precluded. F o r these and other reasons, a standing capability of response must be maintained, The projected cost estimates, therefore, should only be consiaered as tentative, The two major components of the program are discussed in greater detail below: The medical program in the Marshall Islands in FY 79 provides medical surveillance o f persons on Rongelap and Utirik who were radiologically exposed following testing in the
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Marshall Islands, plus a matched control population consisting primarily of unexposed Rongelap people, a limited surveillance has been provided to those persons who were relocated from Bikini. The approximate numbers of Matched controls .- ZOQ Depending upon circumstances, usually three of four trips are made each year to these locations, Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) Medical Department physicians coordinate and direct these programs. One of these trips consists of a large medical staff (usually 12), the majority of whom and institutions, At this time the annual physical examinations are given, including h?matological, urological, serological and other examinations as appropriate, During these visits, "sick call" is held for all residents wishing medical attention; this usually results in up to several hundred persons on each atoll seeing the physicians. ' Included in "sick calls'' are physical examinations, blood tests, treatment if possible, and referral to the Trust Territory Health Services, Other visits during the year are far more specialized examinations (e,g., pediatrics, thyroid, dental, intestinal parasites, etc.) and include BNL staff and appropriate specialists.
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A resident physican assists in these visits. Because of the particular concern related to radiation effects on the thyroid, a separate baseline comparison group has been established, consisting of approximately 500 persons on Rongelap and Utirik and a limited number of other atolls. While this group does not receive complete annual physical examinations, they do provide a baseline for a number of thyroid function tests and thyroid disease incidence rates. The medical program may need to be expanded in FY 80: Persons who resided on Bikini will be included in t h e Baseline medical information will be obtained on persons scheduled to return to Enewetak; this may include in excess of 4 5 0 people. It may be necessary to conduct a medical survey of app-roximately 600 persons who were present on Likiep It is anticipated that based upon radiological surveillance results other population groups (unknown at present) may need to be included. These activities could require $1 million which is above current budget availability. Depending upon medical findings, the medical program in FY 81 is expected to include persons living on Rongelap, Utirik and Likiep, and Bikinians at their residence locations, The greater than three-fold increase anticipated in the population under medical surveillance during FY 80 and FY 51 results in a special problem. The ship which is presently
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under charter for these (.and o t h e r ) visits is only marginally adequate f o r the present program, and would be totally inadequate for any expansion in the program, If an adequate medical program is to be conducted, it is essential that funds be made available for purchase of a 175-foot ship, An estimated cost for the ship and appropriate outfitting is $1,500,000 - $2,000,000b u t is not in the budget. The past, present and estimated projected operating funding FY 77 FY 78 FY 79 ' Monitoring and Assessment Program The radiological monitoring and assessment program in the Marshall Islands consists of field operations, laboratory studies and analyses., exposure assessments, and advisory During FY 79 three trips are being conducted to carry out whole-body counting activities among the Rongelap, Utirik and Bikini peoples, and to begin acquisition of baseline information from Enewetak people planning to return to their atoll. The approximate numbers of people included in this activity are: Rongelap d l 0 0 plus controls Utirik -100 plus controls Bikinians -200 plus controls
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It is expected that two or three trips a year will be continued, with four or five professional staff participating on each trip. If circumstances require (e.g,, including all resettled Enewetak people, other atoll peoples), additional effort may be required. Environmeptal monitoring is conducted on the atolls of Enewetak, Bikini, Rongelap and Utirik. Included are studies of radionuclide transport mechanisms and exposure pathways to man Ce.g., f o o d s and food chains) from both the terrestrial and the marine envi-ronments. A l s o included are studies of the dietary components on the several atolls, At present, these efforts require four trips per year to the Enewetak and Bikini atolls, and two trips per year to the Rongelap and Utirik five to seven professional staff persons participate, These trips result in 2000-3000 samples of various types being returned from analytical examination each year, Depending upon the specific purpose of each trip, It is expected that the current program will be continued, and that some modest expansion may be projected due to (a) additional studies at Enewetak after the people return, at present) as radiological findings and circumstances Individual and population dose assessments are based upon the actual measurements of radionuclides in residents'and in the environment, These assessments provide the bases upon which decisions are made with respect to the acceptability or unacceptability of various living patterns, residence locations, food consumed, etc.
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for FY 80-83 a r e as follow CX 1 0 0 0 ) : It is anticipated that a whole-body counter will require replacement at a cost of about $100K. Also, replacement of and additions to other laboratory and field equipment will amount to roughly 5-10 percent of the operating