ARGC) oo UNITED STATES ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION WASHINGTON 25, D.C. Qe: Acmiral frleich A. Durke, 05h Chief of Neval .reretions Lepartaent of the Nev, washington 25, + C. LOC BEST COPY AVAILABLE Dear Adcire) Burke: You will recall that as a result of the Merch 1 detonation of the CAST. test gerics cominctec b; JT -7 in the Tacific in 195L, the natives of Fonvelap ant Utirlk tolls an the Marshall Telanis were exposed to ralice The Atoaic Mercy Comission, on behalf of the U, 5, p14 Si of those Varsha!lese. Since that time there have been five follaveur meiical ezaninations conducted by the AKT in eclleboretion with the Naval Medioal Research Institute, the Neval Fadiclocical Defense Laboratory an: the Rroachaven Eationnl laburstory. These exrariinetions were greatly facilitated by the asaistance afforde2 the modical teams by CINCKACKIT ani the Coummnling Cfficer HAVSTAZJAd. : & Peat Rab,|CowrwT:0 Ap. FaeeOur, Rap Fold:oR Access Nu. @IAISay Bown 2s7,j Covernzamt, has accepted responsibility for periodic matical exe-inations Location WNRG RG 37% DEFENS E Nue LEAR. active fallout. The fifth folloseup exaxcinations during Februaryeipril, 1955 for the i firet tine omloyed the whole bod counter, an electronic device for ,the magurenent an? identification of the total body burden of contacie matin: ralifoisotores. It proved an ungualifie: enccess in that it provided |direct data an the tire and decree of interne! contacination of a mucber of ithe idelanmiers. It was also vscful in establishin: that there was reaidusl jredloactivity present in certein fooja end other meterials. Since it is ‘Rilbely that the current serics of tests has atieid to the comtazination level of these islanis, it is nore then ever isperetive to continme tCoose meifcal followeur stuiies ent to extemi the survey to a detailed examninae tion of the ecolocical aspects of these islanis; srecial attention met be given to the looslly obtained iteus of cist. in order to eccomrlish this sission it is pro-csed thet a team of andicel ani scolo¢ics! specialists be sart to these islands with their equiraomt, supplies ani technical assistance. The experience of last year’s expedition, far which you preciously rrovidel the LST "Tiuwas County", pecarts us to request thet an LST arein be sesigne: for trance fortation ani basing beginning sas tise between the siddle of Pelcuary ani the first af March, 1955, and requirin: eLout one month overall for coupletion of zisgicn. fm iit proved to have many acvarttares over other craft, not the leest cf viic? was ite ability to accert, ani secure the Zleton shielie’ etoelroas of the whole bak counter on its tank deci. we poe py AVATLABLE root ow 2 isacer gc- 35%. -sF PRIVACY ACT MATERIAL REMOVED G45