The NTPR dose reconstruction program emerged from the fourth task, to provide estimates of radiation doses. This program, described in chapter 7, has been used where film badge readings were not available to determine doses for personnel in participating units and to reconstruct individual doses in specific cases, as in support of veterans claims. Part of this effort is a separate analysis of possible internal dose due to inhalation and ingestion of radioactive materials. This process was submitted for peer review to NAS. On 7 February 1986, NAS released its report, which judged the methodology to have sound scientific merit. DNA and the NTPR teams have taken several actions to establish personal contact with as many test participants as possible, which is the fifth task identified in the preceding section. On 9 February 1978, DNA initiated its nationwide toll-free call-in program for participants to report their involvement in the atmospheric nuclear tests. The agency then issued multiple news releases that identified the purpose of the NTPR program, the toll-free number, and the DNA address. It worked in part through the U.S. Army Hometown Newscenter in Kansas City, Missouri, which had the capability to mail information to 8,066 daily and weekly newspapers, as well as 720 television and 6,394 radio stations. DNA sent letters to news directors and editors asking them to issue an enclosed press release as a service to the part of their audiences that might have participated at a nuclear test (14: 11). The response to the initial nationwide news release was overwhelming. During the first 2 weeks after the toll-free lines were established, almost 13,000 persons called to report or inquire about their test participation. DNA progressively increased the toll-free lines from 2 to 20 (15). have continued to the present, although in diminishing numbers. The calls By 1984, DNA was averaging 150-200 calls a week and by 1985, about 65 a week (16; 17). A total of approximately 50,000 test participants have called or written to the agency* (13). The information extracted from the telephone calls and letters comprises what has come to be known as the File A data base. *The number for the toll-free telephone line is (800) 336-3068. Hawaii, and Alaska, call collect to (703) 286-5610. 13 In Virginia,