Starting in 1965, and after passage of P.L. 88-485, late thyroid abnormality effects began to appear among the Rongelap population and these increased yearly. By the mid-1970's, | Similar thyroid abnormalities began to appear in the people of Utirik. This led on March 17, °1977, to the submission to Congress by Interior of a bill to provide additional ex gratia compensation for the people of Rongelap and initial compensa- tion for the people of Utirik. The bill also provided a flat $1,000 ex gratia payment to all of the affected Utirikese. -This submission resulted in P.L. 95-134 (91 Stat. 1159), approved October 15, 1977, which provided specific amounts of compensation for specific injuries or death. The first appropriation under P.L. Interior Appropriation 95-134 was made in the regular FY 78 Act... Under P.L. 95-134, to date some $1,383,000 in individual payments have been. made as follows: Rongelap. Exposed 35 payments of $25,000............-. ~ $ 1 death payment. . eee ce eee eee eee ewe 875,000 S$ 100,000 $ 158,000 Utirik ‘Exposed | 158 individual ex gratia payments.... 10 payments of $25,000.........-.... Total to date........... S$ 250,000 $1,383,000 Additional Late thyroid effect cases continue to appear in these two affected groups. It should be clearly noted that P.L. 95-134 provides for compensation only to the affected individuals who were on Rongelap or Utirik on March 1, 1954, and primarily revolves around the effect of thyroid abnormalities. P.L. 95-134 does not provide for any future effects which might develop in succeeding generations in these two groups -- nor, of course, in any other group. We hope that there will not be any claims of this sort from the Bikini or Enewetak people. They were not exposed to direct fallout. As you are aware, however, 145 advance Bikini residents were evacuated in August 1978 from Bikini Island when it was determined that continued residence there would be. detrimental to their health. In 1980, we expect that the people of Enewetak Atoll will be returning to the southern part We cannot predict at this time what if any of their atoll. effects will result from long-term residence in areas where low radiation will be present for generations to come. TORE TAREIned eT Te! TENET RATWTAEENGLIIELETTOE BUNTTERT II ~50t1bb3 rae tee ee ae a ut eee