PPicla& USE ONLY 411462 July 30, 1974 SECY-75-99 COMMISSIONER ACTION SUMMARY SHEET subject: COMMENTS REGARDING COMPENSATION FOR INHABITANTS OF RONGELAP AND UTIRIK ATOLLS EXPOSED TO FALLOUT Purpose: The enclosed letter from Dr. Liverman to Mr. Thomas S. Dunmire of the Staff of the Interior and Insular Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives comments on a report of the Special Joint Committee Concerning Rongelap and Utirik Atolls of the Congress of Micronesia. The report is concerned with justification for compensation for those inhabitants of the Atolls who were exposed to radioactive fallout after the March 1, 1954, thermonuclear test conducted on Bikini Atoll. Dr. Liverman's letter expresses and supports an AEC position on this matter. Mr. Dunmire has also requested comments from other departments of the Government that have an interest in this matter. The exposed Rongelap inhabitants were previously compensated under Public Law 88-485 in 1964 prior to the deveiooment of important late medical effects. Since lead responsibility was assumed by the Department of the Interior when P.L. 88-435 was under consideration by the Congress, the AEC has iargely siderations. Because of its sponsorship of the annual medical Frveys conducted in the Marshall Islands by Dr. Robert A. Conrad 4nd his Brookhaven National Laboratory team, AEC is uniquely d&alified to address the scientific and medical aspects of this mgt ter. cit Catmissioner's comments are requested by c.o.b. Augusz 5 Comments may be provided directly to Dr. Marks, X54vu3. i ebter was prepared by BER and concurred in py OGC, OC, nde rah nq Jit 30 PH AE Le . > enw MP bee D wad + oan confined its. comments in the enclosed letter to scientific con- AC. General Manager ‘ i RG Enclosure: Letter Contact: | = Col ttien on S. Marks, DBER X5468 BEST COPY AVAILABLE OFFICIAL USE ONLY . Oe 197 ~ voter|