DRAFT
1988
88
RADIATION
CONTRACTOR
Anant R Moorthy, Carl J. Schopfer, and Sujit Banerjee of BNL publish,
"Plutonium from Atmospheric Weapons Testing: Fission Track Analysis of Urine
Samples." This article concerns a more accurate technique for measuring plutonium
in urine and describes the analyses of Marshallese urine samples for plutonium levels
that began at BNL in 1983. When analyzed with the 1983 method, Photon Electron
Rejection Alpha Liquid Scintillation Counting, the samples appeared to contain higher
rates of plutonium than when analyzed with the more accurate 1986 fission track
analysis. According to BNL, earlier high plutonium results from urinalyses of
Marshallese resulted
also from contamination during collection. With the new
method BNL expects to satisfy islanders’ plutonium concerns.*”
7 Jan 88
ADMINISTRATION
CONTRACTOR
RADIATION
RELOCATION
The LLNL recommendspotassium treatment of the soil for the uptake of
cesium'” in the northern Marshall Islands.**
The DOE/NV and the DOI sign an amendment number one to a
. memorandum of agreement for the establishment of a base campatBikini Atoll. This
amendmentrevises the scope of work for the Bikini Atoll Resettlement Project to
allow DOEto hire an independent scientific consultant to review the work and
provides the DO! with strengthened oversight and accountability for the funds.”
12 Jan 88
ADMINISTRATION
MEDICAL —
The offices ofemergency response and ‘program -analysisis established as part’
ofa Nv. tedrgheteaionssParty Brown? Mershalb sera ‘manager; ts:
C
designateddeputyproject mariage? of-that-office? ThisYnové necessitates a review
of NWS‘inariagemeént responsibility of the DOE’s Marshall Islands programs. Brown
retains his position as Marshall Islands program manager overseeing the BNL and the
LENL effotts. He is also designated the principal contact point for policy matters with
the headquarters program office, other federal agencies, and the RMI government.
The PASOis to participate more actively in policy making’
Representatives of the DOE and the 177 Health Plan sign a memorandum of
agreement that describes the various medical responsibilities of each organization,
including the individuals eligible for each program; the coordination of medical
referrals; and the exchange of medical information.“
26 Jan 88
RELOCATION
Sens. James A. McClure and Bennett Johnston write to President Ronald W.
Reagan to express concern over the Bikini Atoll cleanup and resettlement. Tofulfill
’
the U.S. commitment, McClure and Johnston urge that the President "seize this
opportunity and work closely with the Bikinians on developing a plan, as anticipated
under the 1985 settlement, to meet our government's commitments and to resolve
ongoing or potentiallitigation.”
JOULES