Outline for Preparation of Plan for Health Care of
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7
;
People of Marshalls Exposed to Radiation from
U.S. Nuclear Testing Program
I.
Introduction
P.L.
96-205,2 approved by President Carter on March 12,
1980,
requires the Secretary of the Interior to provide for the people
of the atolls of Bikini,
Enewetak,
Rongelap,
and Utirik,
and for
the people of such other atolls as may be found to have been
exposed to radiation from the U.S.
nuclear testing program,
a
program of medical care and treatment and environmental research
and monitoring for any injury,
illness, or condition that may be
the result directly or indirectly of such nuclear testing program.
The law stipulates that the program shall be implemented
ccording to a plan developed by the Secretary in consultation
with the Secretaries of Defense,
Energy,
and Health,
Education,
and Welfare” and with the direct involvement of representatives from
the people of each of the affected atolls and from the Government
of the Marshall Islands.
to the situation,
The plan shall set forth,
condition,
as appropriate
and needs of the individual atoll
peoples:
"(1) an integrated, comprehensive health care program
including primary, secondary, and tertiary care with special
emphasis upon the biological effects of ionizing radiation;
"(2) a schedule for the periodic comprehensive survey and
analysis of the radiological status of the atolls to and at
appropriate intervals, but not less thanonce every five years,
the development of an update: radiation dose assessment, together
with an estimate of the risks associated with the predicted human
exposure,
for each such atoll;
t Section 102 of P.L.
and
96-205 attached as Appendix
Now Health and Human Services.
"A".