might be nearly half of the plutonium dose. A better understanding of the behavior of curium both in the marine and terrestrial environments of the atolls is warrented. Since 242 Cm decays to 238 Pu, there will be changing concentrations of this radionuclide in the environment and an evaluation of the increases of Pu 238 in the local environments should be made. There is still some uncertainity concerning what fish tissue and what quantity of tissue is consumed by the Marshallese in their diet. Doses from transuranics through ingestion of fish flesh are low but specific communities may also consume the liver, or parts of the intestinal tract or the entire fish wherein concentration levels are generally much higher. Until better dietary information is available, it will be necessary to analyze atl fish parts to permit reconstruction of the radionuclide concentations for dose assessment in any subfraction of the entire fish. A better understanding of how the radionuclides are distributed among various tissues could circumvent the need for this continued long term analytical program. For example, if ratios of activity between various fish parts are determined and verified, it would then only be necessary to analyze one or two tissues of the fish and predict other concentrations from the developed tissue ratios. 6.) Ground Water Groundwater studies at Enewetak and Bikini are progressing under the current DOE research program but little is known of the rates or cycling processes of radionuclides between the terrestrial soils and groundwater at Rongel ap and Utirik. The water is fresh enough for human consumption and efforts should be made to protect this valuable resource and understand or predict any major changes in radionuclide concentrations with time. Understanding how radionuclides migrate to the water tables is closely linked 40