Document text
Machine-read from the scan, so expect some errors. Lines that couldn’t be read are left out.
Page 1
Department of the Interior Dear Anbassador Rosenblatt: It was helpful to talk with you by telephone after the October 12 inter-agency meeting at the Departrcent of the Interior. Under Secretary James A . Joseph that he should undertake to call upon the Department of Energy t o develop a plan for long range radiological monitoring of Enewetak Atoll and its People,a program o f vital importance to ' .them..knd_toall those in the Marshall Islands who were exposed to radi tion or otherwise affected by the nuc1ear.testing activity carried on by the United States at Bikini and Enewetak. I have subsequently suggested to I am prompted-by recent news accounts appearing here, copies of which are enclosed, to take up with you . some of'the same questions we discussed In our October telephone conversation, and others, arising out of o u r representation of other clients in the Marshall Islands. In addition to serving a s Counsel for the People of Enewetak, we represent the People of Rongelap and
Page 2
Amba s sador Ro s enb lat t Uti rik Atolls, i n connection with losses they suffered and continue t o suffer as a result of radioactive fallout from the ch 1, 1954 them nuclear - explosion The People.atr-Enewetak suffered the loss of seve Ire islands which were eradicated by them nuclear test explosions,and, depending upon the degree of ?cleanup program currently under way, Bother islands will remain of * littl eo r -because of radioactive contamination. rily; removed from their atoll Decemd-have lived a very difficult thirty program scheduled for completion in April 1980 will contribute in a significant way to reestablishing the people in their homeland, but there is still much that will be needed t o achieve the ultimate objective of the program: to reestablish them on their atoll in a state of social and economic well - behg.In addition, because ofthe long term effects of ionizing radiation,there i s need fora program which will continually reassess radiological conditions inthe environment, monitor the radiological health o f the people and provide treatment of any radiation related Illnesses which might occur. The cleanup and rehabilitation The People of Rongelap and the People Utixik have similar claims and needs. Each i s a separate group and each is a separate client of ours, but I will speak generally about both in this contexc. A t Rongelap . eighty-six people were exposed t o an estlmated radia - tion dose, of 175 .rads. Other nembers of the People of Rongelap who were a t Ailfngnae were exposed t o 78 rads and at Uti rik the eotinated exposure was 1 4 rads. All of the exposure came from radioactive fallout of the thermonuclear explosion, fallout which was carried "up-. . wind" from the Bikini test site. The fallout was so heavy it resembled snow and because the people were unfamiliar with such things, they did not h o w t o take any precautions: children played init as though i t were harmless. It was two to t h r e e days before the people were evacuated by United States authorities. The People of Rongelap were not permitted to return to their atoll. for a period of three years, and some of their islands are still subject t o restricted use.
Page 3
You know of the program of medical examination and treatment for the People of Rongelap and Uti rik, carried on under the auspices of Doctor Robert A. Conard of ational Laboratory. There are also two compensation, one which was completed in ther which'is currently under way. Doctor Conard's work'and these other programs have made a significant:contxibution,to the well being of the People of Rongelap and the People of Utirik, but as in the case of Enewetak, full satisfaction of all indidual' claims..handfirm commitments to meet the long needs of-:'the people have yet to be made. .-. any means intend to minimize what has past, but my principle purpose here is to highlight the legal reeponsibilit collective,.,of, a l l of these people and to make firm and binding commitments for the vital radiological programs which only the United States has the wherewithal to In our view, these are very special kinds of responsibilities which are not properly comprehended within whatever financial obligation is undertaken by the United States for the general support of the future government of the Narshall Islands. The People of Enewetak, the People of Rongelap, the People of Utirik, ought not to have to compete with other legitimate needs of the Marshall Islands f o r whatever total financial support is negotiated between you and the Marshall Island Political Status Commission. Likewise, we do not think the,Marshall Island Political Status Commission should be required to, in effect, finance radio1ogFcal health and environmental programs for the people of these three atolls out of whatever limited funds are ultimately agreed upon between you and them. We think the responsibility runs directly from the United States to each of these clients and they alone have the legal capacity to settle these claims and to agree to a definitlon, once and for all, of the future ' responsibility of the United States with regard to radiation related personal injuries, losses of property and environmental hazards. I realize that the exact means for meeting the of the United States to fully satisfy the claims, 7:0th individual and needs of our clients, which I have outlined here only i n the most general terms, can vary considergbly de-
Page 4
pending upon the exact nature of the relatfonship worked out between you and the Marshall Islands in th ~ currentaegotiations. I also appreciate that you do . n o t represent theunited States on all matters concerning Micronesia and, indeed, os you know f r o m our previous convexsatton, my v i e w of the matter is.that misuse if you will, by the trustee, of the property beneficiaries of the trust. Nonetheless, because of proach to.negotistions with the liarshall Island Political Statua:Commission'upon the vital interests of our clients.,:iwe would be happy to make ourselves available to you o r a member o f your staff while you are on Saipan next month to discass these matters. Adrian Winkel, High Commissioner, TTPI Ruth Van Cleve, DOTA, DO1 Matthew Nimetz, DOS Amata Kabua, MIPSC