8 litical fraymentation of the Trust Territory, such fragmentation is all but inevitable absent a basic and dependable communications system. Theve is no guarantee thet such a system will in fact prevent furiher fragmentation, but its absence will make political federation exceed- ingly difficult. ¢ The Ponape hydroelectric authorization is based on a staff investigation conducted last year on Ponape. Thestaff report concluded that of all potential sites visited, only the site on the Nanepil River war- ranted further investigation..The site had been used by the Japanese during the Mandate to supply the town of Kolonia. The staff report concluded that in investment of $12 million could produce a facility eenerating over four million Kilowatt hours annually. Ponapeas well as all otherdistricts, is totally dependent oil, the costs of which are consuming an ever increasing Jocal operations budget. Sec. 109. This section clarifies section 10+(a}(4) of At present, on imported shareof the Public Law 95-134 whichrequired the Secretary of the Interior to provide medical care and treatment for the population exposed to the fallout from the March 1, 1954 “Bravo” thermonuclear test at Bikini by adding a more detailed provision describing a program of environmental monitoring and healthcare, Due to uncertainty raised by the Budget Committce over whether cm this section authorized a new program (despite the 25 years of health care treatment and environmental monitoring underexisting authorizations) the Committee made the authorization in the newsection 106 (b)(3) effective October 1, 1980. The Committee did not delete the existing mandate and authorization of section 104(a) (4). The Committee expects the Secretary to immediately begin the developmentof the comprehensive health care and environmental monitoring plan as provided in this section using existing authorities. Although only a few hundred people are affeeted, the situation at the individual atolls differ considerably ; andit is important that a plan be developed which recognizes the different situations. For example, the people at Rongelap were exposed direetly to excessive levels of radiation and are developing a series of radiation related diseases, The people of Bikini on the other hand have a patential problem from notes a ree vieiipdal pg. RA FP eee . hie. . has noted the three specitic items only to emphasize their importance. The United States has been committed to the completion of a basic infrastructure in the Trust Territory sufficient to enable the Micronesian states to provide basic services and develop local economics. The uncertain and undefined nature of a basic infrastructure together with complaints about and diseconomics in the management of the public works program led to a comprehensive investigation and oversicht by this Committee in 1974-75. As a result of that investigation, the Departmentof the Interior, together with the Navy officer in charge of construction, prepared a. systematic development program. The program has not, however, been fully inplemented, although this Committee aud the Congress have approved full funding. Delays and deferrals of individual projects have increased costs and in some instances restricted the scope of the projects themselves. As a result, the Committee feels compelled to note that completion of the capital im-. provement program is specifically authorized. - ee - Although the United States has endeavored to prevent further po- ae sees s Le ag ~~ ae ee bedi thn aad Fe ep emieee the Bikini people will require additional expenditures, The Committee