Letter to S R Yates, Subject: Discussion at the Subcommittee Hearing on the Bikini Situation as to the Role Performed by DR R a Conard of Brookhaven National Laboratory

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Chairman, Sxbcomnittee on Interior \Jashl~.gtoil,D.C. 20515 BEST COPY AVAILABLE Conzrd LJf Brookhaven National Laboratory in the April 1978 annual medical survey of the Bikini Island residents. You will recall Lhat there was confusion as to just when Dr. Conard I“ast was on Bikini Island and what he might have told the residents of Eikini Island when he was there as to the consumptio[~ of local c.ocor.uts. Ee.partment, Srookhaven Xational Laboratory, Upton, New York, has [orwarded to us a copy of his trip report of this annual medical survey , which took place between Ptarc!l25 - April 25, 1978. A copy of t~)e repcr~ also has been submitzed for insertion in ths June 19, 1978, hearirig rEcord, bst I thotight you might like to review a copy at this cim. Yzu will z~te, for exxnple, that tl]e Acting llagistrate of the Bikini island resitieats 17.2s rold of the prelir.inary analy:;~s of the April findings of the whole body COL(I?t examinations. Dr. Conard also expressed concern over the fzcc that the residents were ea~ing Bikini Island coconuts> and suggested that they eat the Eneu Island coconuts rather lhirch 25 - April 25, 1978, the Eepartmenc of Energy had not cletermi~ec! Ci]at tile Elleu Island coconuts were suspect. The Department of the Interior was not infurmcd of the new clevelopr~ent until mid-nay and Dr. ConaYd, in che fi.~ld, did not have access to any information to T. hope that Dr. Conard’s trip report will clear up the misunderstandings on this matter. .- Office of Territorial Affairs