+e Sth Julius H. Rubin aQe Rerge “79 of Operational Safety (DOS) AEC, and Office of Assistant Manager for Operations (AMO) NVOO. The survey will investigate the islands of principal interest in the atoll and will include sampling of soil, air, sea and well water, terrestrial and marine organisms and agricultural crops as well as measurements of radiation levels in collected scrap metal and of gamma levels in and around new structures. Particular emphasis is to be given to collection and analysis of new food crops now being grown in the atoll. The team will obtain housing and messing support from Trust Territory but will bring to the atoll its own water transportation and communications. The field survey will be followed by laboratory analysis of samples by WERL and LRE. , RONGELAP ATOLL Dr. Robert A. Conard, Brookhaven National Laboratory, with support from Division of Biology and Medicine, is continuing the followup medical surveys of the people of Rongelap and Utirik Atolls. His next field survey will be conducted during the thonth of March 1972. Accompanying Dr. Conard will be staff from the National Institutes of Health and the Cleveland Metropolitan Hospital and possibly three physicians from Japan. Dr. Conard and his team are there to identify and evaluate any long term effects in the exposed population. Complete treatments of such diagnosed effects are carried out in Hawaii and in the U.S. In addition, daily supportive therapy in the form of thyroid hormone is provided for those showing thyroid deficiencies. Other medical problems requiring definitive treatment are called immediately to the attention of the Department of Health Services of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. Rongelap and Utirik people will be examined at Ebeye in Kwajalein, at Rongelap, Utirik, Majuro and Honolulu. Dr. Conard's findings are published in a series of BNL reports. Currently, Dr. Conard is receiving complete cooperation by the Rongelapese. However, the people of Utirik have been expressing discontent because they did not receive a payment of money as did the Rongelapese (those on Utirik received a much lower exposure). The medical support provided these people was the subject of considerable discussion in the January 1972 session of the Congress of Micronesia and a resolution, H. B. 199, was introduced by Representative Ataji Balos of the Marshalls District and co-signed by all members of the House of Repre- sentatives. If enacted there would be established a "Special Joint Committee of Congress Concerning Rongelap and Utirik Atolls" to investigate the results of irradiation of people of Rongelap and Utirik Atolls, to secure . medical assistance and aid, to obtain compensation for injuries and, having power to conduct hearings and investigations, to issue subpoenas for witnesses and to bring suits in any court of the Trust Territory. In presenting the bill, Representative Balos made one of the strongest and most bitter attacks against the U. S. and Trust Territory. He stated he was ‘ convinced the U. S. knowingly and consciously allowed people of Rongelap and Utirik to be exposed to fallout in 1954 in order to use them as human guinea pigs in development of its medical capabilities to treat its citizens in event of war. The attack was apparently precipitated by refus k's SS ayBTF foto 104 ESS —~ereRE