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Pacific Northwest Laboratories 400 South Hope Street Los Angeles, CA 90071-2899 Enclosed is a brief narrative description of PNL’s participation in activities related to the Marshall Islands. Also, enclosed are copies of documents that illustrate the nature of our participation. We presume that the current litigation stemmed from our participation in producing the Enewetak and Bikini books. However, we are including in the attached, selected representative documentation of all activities. One activity that was not mentioned to you before was a radiation educational plan for the Marshall Islands which we prepared for the Department of Energy to submit to the Department of Interior to satisfy provisions of the so-called “Burton Bill.” Although several of us visited the Marshall Islands and met with a number of their government officials, the plan as submitted to the Department of Interior is not attributed to Battelle. Also the education plan has not been implemented. Another activity that was got mentioned to you before is that of Dr. Richard Gilbert. I hadn’t realized until recently that he was contacted by DOE as early as 1976 with regard to the Enewetak cleanup. He just returned this fall from a year in Japan and thus was not available last spring when we compiled the chronology of our activities in the Pacific. In addition to the copies of documentation in the enclosed package, we have in our files much related material which includes input from members of the advisory group from other laboratories, draft reports, and numerous information letters and documents received from DOE for use by the advisory group and for use in preparing the Enewetak and Bikini books. All of this available if you need it. Please call if you have questions. Environment, Health and Safety Research Program
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PNL ACTIVITIES IN THE MARSHALL ISLANDS The following summarizes Battelle, Pacific Northwest Laboratories, activities in the Marshall Islands. Attached are copies of relevant documentation arranged by year beginning with 1976. In 1976 Dr. Richard Gilbert was contacted by DOE with regard to the proposed cleanup of Enewetak Atoll. These contacts are documented in the On August 11, 1977 Dr. Bairwas asked by Dr. James L. Liverman, Assistant Administrator for Environment and Safety of Energy Research and Development Administration to review radionuclide cleanup criteria for Enewetak Atoll in the Marshall Islands. Other Battelle staff who participated in this were Dr. Roy Thompson and Mr. William Templeton of Pacific Northwest Laboratory and Dr. Joseph Trimble of HARC. On June 27-29, 1977 Mr. Templeton participated at the request of ERDA in a workshop at Lawrence Livermore Laboratory on cleanup plans for the Marshall Islands. Copies of documents pertaining to this are attached. On April 4, 1978 Dr. Bairwas asked by the Department of Energy to chair an advisory group on the Cleanup of Enewetak Atoll. This was reaffirmed on April 27, 1979 by Ruth Clusen, Assistant Secretary for Environment. Also participating on this advisory group were the following Templeton. There were six other members from DOE, Oak Ridge, Lovelace and Los Alamos. This group provided to DOE an overview of the cleanup effort at Enewetak and recommended cleanup levels for transuranic elements. The DOE required the Defense Nuclear Agency to cleanup Enewetak to these recommended levels. The activities of this advisory group, called Bair Committee, are described in a history of the cleanup of Enewetak published by the Defense Nuclear Agency. Copies of pages from this history and documents generated by the activities of the advisory group are attached. The group also provided advice to DOE on program plans to assess the radioactivity levels at other locations in the Marshall Islands. The activity of this advisory group essentially ceased January 1981 when Mrs. Clusen left the DOE. This work is documented in the attached. PNL’s participation in preparing the two books, Ailin in Enewetak Rainin: The Enewetak Atoll Today and Melelen Radiation The Meaning of Radiation at Bikini Atoll , for DOE originated from Dr. Bair’s being chairman of the advisory group. As chairman he was asked to go with DOE personnel to the Marshall Island to help explain radioactivity, radiation effects, etc. He believed that such an educational attempt would be much more effective if illustrated written material could be left with the Marshallese. Since there were no suitable materials on radiation printed in the Marshallese language, DOE supported the preparation of those two books. PNL’s activities in preparing these books are documented in the attached. A third book for the Marshallese, other than the Bikini and Enewetak people, living in the northern part of the Marshall Islands was completed in November 1982. This will be delivered to the Marshallese government officials the week of December 7, 1982.
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In the fall of 1980, PNL was asked by the Department of Energy to . prepare a plan for educating the hlarshallese on radiation matters. This plan was submitted by DOE to the Department of Interior to satisfy requirements of Public Law 96-205, “The Burton Bill.” PNL was a candidate to undertake the education program, but none of the provisions of the Burton Bill has been implemented because Congress has not appropriated
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July 29: R. O. Gilbert attended a meeting in Joe Deal’s office to discuss upcoming Enewetak cleanup. October 19: R. O. Gilbert provides assistance to Ed Bramlitt concerning estimating Pu concentration contours on Janet. June 27-29: W. L. Templeton assists at workshop at Lawrence Livermore Laboratory concerning Enewetak Cleanup. August 11: J. Liverman asks W. J. Bair to participate in reviews of Enewetak Cleanup Criteria. Enewetak Cleanup Criteria and Disposal in Las Vegas, NV. August 17: B. W. Wachholz (OES/DOE) informs Deputy Assistant Secretary for Environment, J. Liverman, that an effort must be initiated to communicate to the people of Enewetak the risks to which they will be exposed if they return to the islands. The risks ...must be made comprehensible to the people from their members in newly created Advisory Group on Cleanup of Enewetak April 13-14: First meeting of Advisory Group in Las Vegas, NV (Bair, April 26-27: Meeting of Advisory Group in Denver, CO (Bair, Gilbert, ilay 12: W. J. Bair accepts chairmanship of Advisory Group. August 20-27: Advisory Group goes to Enewetak for orientation (Bair, Gilbert, Templeton, Thompson). October 3: Advisory Group meets in Denver, CO (Bair, Gilbert, Templeton, March 27-28: Advisory Group meets in Washington, DC (Bair, Gilbert, Hay 4: Advisory Group meets in Denver, CO (Bair, Gilbert, Templeton,
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the Marshalls] don’t understand why radiation on various islands is different. It is suggested that there might be a meeting with the people to explain the situation. Micronesia Legal Service informs Assistant Secretary for Environment, R. Clusen, that the Enewetak people want a conference to receive “...from the Department of Energy a full report on the radiological status of all the islands at Enewetak Atol 1...[and] an updated radiological dose assessment and associated risk estimate.. .” Advisory Group meets in San Francisco, CA (Bair, Gilbert, Mrs. A. Buck (Kwajalein) is invited to help translate the booklet PNL is preparing for DOE into Marshallese for the Enewetak B. Wachholz informs Advisory Group: “A booklet in both Marshallese and English is being prepared to discuss and describe the radiological condition of the atoll, the findings of the dose assessment, and what it all means. ..” 16-23: ~. J. Bair travels with DOE representatives to Ujelang to present the booklets to the Enewetak people. December 12-13: Advisory Group meets in Las Vegas, NV (Bair, Gilbert, February 14: A. Buck is invited to help translate a book to be prepared for the Bikini people. to Majuro to consult with government and educational personnel about designing an education program as mandated under the Burton Bill (Public accompanies DOE representatives to Kili to present the booklet to the Bikini people. November: PNL submitted an education and information program plan to DOE April 3: A. Buck is invited to help translate “...books for Rongelap, (This effort was ultimately reduced to one book for all the
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September 18-30: A. Buck and Marshallese translators help to draft book on 13-atoll survey. September 18-30: A. Buck and Marshallese translators help to finish translation of book on 13-atoll survey. November 22: Book on 13-atoll survey printed and delivered to DOE.
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PNL ACTIVITIES IN THE MARSHALL ISLANDS The following summarizes Battelle, Pacific Northwest Laboratories, activities in the Marshall Islands. Attached are copies of relevant documentation arranged by year beginning with 1976. In 1976 Dr. Richard Gilbert was contacted by DOE with regard to the proposed cleanup of Enewetak Atoll. These contacts are documented in the Assistant Adminis ation,for Environment and Safety of Energy Research and %Development Adminis ation to review radionuclide cleanup criteria for Enewetak Atoll in the Marshall Islands. Ot@~aLtelle staff who participated in this we~~.,g~ Roy Thompson <anct%DrtyWilliam Templeton of P~gjfic Northwest Lab?f’dhd Dr. Joseph Trimble of FIARC. On June 27-29, 1977 (“Dr. Templeton participated at the request of ERDA in a workshop at Lawrence “-tivermore Laboratory ~on cleanup plans for the Marshall Islands. Copies of documents pertaining to this are attached. On April 4, 1978 Dr. Bairwas asked by the Department of Energy to chair an advisory group on the Cleanup of Enewetak Atoll. This was reaffirmed on April 27, 1979 by Ruth Clusen, Assistant Secretary for Environment. Also participating on thisadvisory group were the following There were six other members from DOE, Oak Ridge, Lovelace and Los Alamos. This group provided to DOE an overview of the cleanup effort at Enewetak and recommended cleanup levels for transuranic elements. The DOE required the Defense Nuclear Agency to cleanup Enewetak to these recommended levels. The activities of this advisory group, called Bair Committee, are described in a history of the cleanup of Enewetak published by the Defense Nuclear Agency. Copies of pages from this history and documents generate the activities of the advisory group are attached. % The group also provided advice to DOE on program plans to assess the radioactivity levels at other locations in the Marshall Islands. The activity of this advisory group essentially ceased January 1981 when Mrs. Clusen left the DOE. This work is documented in the attached. PNL’s participation in preparing the two books, Ailin in Enewetak Rainin: The Enewetak Atoll Today and Melelen Radiation Ilo Ailin in Bikini: The Meaning of Radiation at Bikini Atoll for DOE originated from Dr. Bair’s being chairman of the advisory group. ‘As chairman he was asked to go with DOE personnel to the Marshall Island to help explain radioactivity , radiation effects, etc. He believed that such an educational attempt would be much more effective if illustrated written material could be left with the Marshallese. Since there were no suitable materials on radiation printed in the Marshallese language, DOE supported the preparation of those two books. PNL’s activities in preparing these books are documented in the attached. A third book for the Marshallese, other than the Bikini and Enewetak people, living in the northern part of the Marshall Islands was completed in November 1982. This will be delivered to the Marshallese government officials the week of December 7, 1982.
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In the fall of 1980, PNL was asked by the Department prepare a plan for educating the Marshallese on radiation of Energy to plan was submitted by DOE to the Department of Interior to satisfy requirements of Public Law 96-205, “The Burton Bill~ PNL was a candidate education program, but none of the revisions of the Burton Bill been implemented because
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was asked by Dr. James L.~Klv%rman, Assistant Administration for Environment and Safety of~”$nergy Research and ~ Development Administration to review radionticlidecleanup criteria - “ for’Ertt?wetakAtol 1 in the Marshall Islands. Other Batte~~e staff who participated in this were Dr. Roy Thompson, and Dr. Willlam TemPleton of Pacific Northwest Labs and Dr; Joseph Trimble of HARC. On June 27-29, 1977 Dr. Templeton participated at the request of ERDA in a workshop at Lawrence Livermore Laboratory on a workshop on cleanup plans for the On April 4, 1978A was asked by the Department of Energy to chair an advisory group on the Cleanup of Enewetak Atoll. This was reaffirmed on April 27, 1979 by Ruth Clusen, Assistant Secretary for Environment. ti~5 Participating w#s&w on this advisory group were the following Battelle were six other members from DOE, Oak Ridge, Lovelace and Los Alamos. %P7A-A.F. provided to DOE an overview of the cleanup effort at Enewetak and recommended cleanup levels for.transuranic elements. The DOE required the Defense Nuclear Agency to cleanup Enewetak to these recommended levels. The activities of this advisory group, called Bair~ommittee, are described in a history-of the cleanup of Enewetak published by the Defens ~-also provided advi~e to DOE on program plans to assess the radioactivity levels at other locations in the Marshall Islands. The activity of this advisory group essentia Iy ce~>d January 1981 when Mrs. Clusen ~&L;~ participation in preparing the two books, The Enewetak Atol 1 Today and Melelen Radiation Ilo Ailin in Biki “: The Meaning of Radiation at Bikini Atoll, for DOE’origi ated fro advisory group. As chairman as asked to go with DOE personnel to the M rshall Islands to help explain radioactivity} radiation effects, etc. 7* cational attempt would be much more third book for the Marshallese, @* .?L*<L6L,. other than the Bikini a
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