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United States Department of the Interior OFFICE OF TERRITORIES Hon. Edward E. Johnston Trust Territory of the Satpan, Uariana Islands 96950 Dr. Robert A. Conard of the Brookhaven National Laboratory has sant me a copy of hio letter to you of Augu~t 26. Dr. Conard, you will recall, has been involved for many years in following up the health of the Rongelap peopla and hen recently bccendesignated by the Atomic Energy Commission to monitor the health of the returning Bikini peopla. From our standpoint, and in recognition of the public concern about the health of the Rongelapeae and the returning Bikinlans, we would hope that everything possible will be done to insure continuation of the monitoring program. We were somawhat aurpriaed to see the deletion of funds for the Rongelap survey in the budget for 1971 which you submitted to the Congress of Micronesia. We were surprised in two respects -- one, that you provided funds for this purpose, and two, that it was deleted. It is our understanding I that although Microneeian personnel have participated in the surveys, no direct costs have been incurred by the Trust Territory Govarn- ‘ Dr. Conard also reported that the Bikini people mny attempt to charge unreasonable rentals for the use of one of the bunkers which the Brookhaven people had hoped to u~e for health testing purposes. The original thinking in the Office of Territories, I am informed, was for the proposed Mkinl dispensary to Include whatever facllitiea might be needed for tha future health examination requiremcnta. This would seem to ba a poaaible solutlon to the I note that Dr. Conard indicatas that he would like to meet with you in Salpan before the next Rongelap survey in March. If your the permits when you are here for budget hearings, it might be possible fot Dr. Conard to come to Washington to visit with you, This b lmething which we might explore further~ BEST COPY AVAILABLE .