\ United States Department of the Interior Ceatelh | OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY a 4o1s24 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20240 Lye | Honorable Adrian P. High CommisSioner MAR Winkel 2 1978 Trust Territory of the Pacific Saipan, Dear Mr. Islands Mariana Islands 96950 Winkel: This is a follow-up to my dispatch message, DOTA NO. 075-TT of February 27, 1978, on SB 7-109 providing for a Trust Territory Fallout Survivors Act to provide adequate medical care and other benefits to the people of Rongelap and Utirik toils. We have been aware for a considerable period of time that P.L. 5-52 of 1973 has not been a workable act. It was approved in 1973 by the Acting High Commissioner without the Atomic Energy Commission (now incorporated into the Department of Energy) having had a chance to express an official opinion on it. The Act of 1973 required the High Commissioner to seek t an executive agreement with the Atomic Energy Commission whereby the Atomic Energy Commission would be responsible for expenses incurred under the provisions of the Act. The Act also set out very specific demands. . Our files here do not seem to be complete on the sequence of events which led to the somewhat premature approval of the 1973 - Act other than the Acting High Commissioner felt it politically expedient to approve it. However, it has not been possible to Carry out the provisions of the Act. Negotiations were undertaken with the Atomic Energy Commission after approval of the 1973 Act. That agency was not prepared to accept certain conditions laid down by the Congress of Micronesia, i.e., the inclusion of all descendants of exposed persons and all control persons, as well as all of the costs specified by the Congress of Micronesia. While an Agreement between the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission and the Trust . VGA, ae fs "& aS Territory of the Pacific Islands eventually was worked out, provided for only partial reimbursement and included only exposed persons and certain designated control persons. eB3 rp. i ve it | cc: |Dr.Robert Conard | | Brookhaven National Laboratory, N.Y. ce VEE | Lv “J “Rage wears