The Secretary of the Interior said the future proolems GAO mentioned are béing considered by the Departments of Energy and the Interior and The Departthe Micronesian Status Negotiators. ment of State replied that the issue of post- trusteesnip liability and claims resulte:ng from the nuclear testing program has been raised in the Micronesian Status Negotiations. (See apo. III.) This report was discussed with representatives ef the Office of Micronesian Status Negotiations, an interagency office tasked with tne negctiation cf the future political status of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. They stated that the issues concerning liasilities and claims resulting from the U.S. nuclear testing program have been raised in the negotlations. Tne Department of Energy statec it woul welcome an independent radiological assessment of the Enewetak cleanup project. However, the Department of 2apos. [ the Interior and the Cerense Nuclear Agency feel that an incecenGent assessment 1S not necessary. (See “ T and II.) Tne Departments of the Interior, State, Enerav, snc Detense crovided other, more detailed: comments that GAO included in the bedy of tne report where atpropriate. LIMITATIONS ON REPORT DISTRIAUTION Tnis 1s @ restricted report with limited Gistricution since negotiations setween tne tnited States and tne Marshall Islands Polit- ical Status Commission concerning the endinsa of tne trusteeshio agreement are currently in crogress. The issues cf costtrusteesiis liaDllliv amc claims are scart ci tne Status Necc~ tiaticns. It is celievec that reiease oF inis reccert while necccliations ere in soreocresé woold net cé in tne cest interest cf ine Gev- ernment _——59014s9