at the meeting appeared surprised, confused, and skeptical of Roger's statements that food from Enjebi Island and from the northern islands at Rongelap could be eaten and that the people should make their own judgments. The representatives at the meeting recognized that this advice was new and inconsistent with recommendations they have been urged to follow for many years. It was stated that they preferred instead advice that was clear and free of qualifications that would require them to make a judgment on whether they should eat the food. Though the Marshallese were polite, and it is not their way to give offense, even so, some of their statements to Roger at this point were obviously sarcastic even when filtered through the interpreter. There was an embarrassing moment when Roger asked the Marshallese to help him explain the advice he had given to them. Rather than relax current restrictions on use of coconut crabs from the northern islands at Rongelap and on all food from Enjebi Island at Enewetak, the restrictions need to be strengthened. Body burden measurements by BNL during the past year at both atolls have indicated increased levels of Cs-137 in some individuals who have been eating food from restricted locations. ‘The restriction at Rongelap needs to be increased to include all foods from the northern islands. Body burdens for females less than eleven years of age at Rongelap have increased 82% at the time of the last measurement in July 1982. Adult male burdens were up to 56%. Doses are expected to continue to increase - to 250 mRem/yr. Relaxing restrictions will cause doses to go even higher. In the past we have considered it vital that DOE's health protection policy in the Marshalls should provide a uniform degree of protection from atoll to atoll and should be consistent with protection provided in the U.S. DOE's standards for the predictive mode for cleanup of Enewetak that were approved by EPA and by Congress, specify 250 mRem/yr (not 500 mRem/yr), and 4,000 mRem/30 yr (not 5,000 mRem/30 yr). I urge that these lower criteria should apply anywhere in the Marshalls where decisions are to be made based on dose predictions. I would be happy to discuss this further if you wish. On several occasions in after-hour discussions during the trip, Roger and I disagreed on how questions on radiological safety should be handled. This is only a continuation of a difference of opinion between DOE headquarters safety staff and W staff (at the greatest intensity between Roger and myself) that began many years ago when NV became involved in Enewetak cleanup. This disagreement has intensified as DP and NV have taken steps to take over EP programs and responsibilities in the Marshalls. My view is that this new approach to radiation protection (and I must assume that this is DP's approach) will be difficult for this agency to explain and defend in the future. It may seem curious to others as to why a shift in programmatic responsibilities within DOE causes a shift in radiation protection policy and practice in the Marshalls? I wonder about this myself. I expect that the Bikinians will quickly recognize the implications of this new DOE advice. A logical extension of Roger's advice is that the Bikinians should make their own decision on whether to return to Bikini Atoll. Doses for Bikini Island residents could be 10 times the U.S. standard. Such residents may not meet the standards for radiation workers, and this population includes pregnant women and infants. DOE ARCHIV ae