Mr. Charles T. Donmmick -2- of my covering letter of August 11 and the Request for Proposals. As you will note, the statement of the "Responsibilities of the Contractor" is close to the same as in the August 1 Discussion Paper, but we modified it in some particulars in light of our August 4 and 6 consultations. As soon as possible after we have assessed the comment. that we receive by August 18, we expect to issue a supplementary document, reflecting such changes in the Request for Proposals as we find appropriate. Your letter of August 8, which we of course did not have when the Request for Proposals was mailed that day, contains suggestions that we will be pleased to incorporate in the supplementary document, to the fullest extent we find possible. We had already modified certain of the references to Likiep, in light of the August 6 discussions, but we will examine those references further. I would point out that your suggestion numbered 5, on page 10 of your letter, seems to us to be substantially comprehended in our statement of the Responsibilities of the Contractor. I regret that we cannot afford a longer period for comment, as you request. We have provided the period August 1 through August 18, and given the task that needs to be accomplished in the next few months, that two and one-half weeks is all that time permits. I do not doubt, however, that there will be further opportunities for meetings and other consultations as those months unfold. On page seven of your letter, you ask for a response from us to a letter from your medical consultant, Dr. Loeffler, to your counsel, Mr. Copaken, dated July 23, concerning the proposed medical survey of Likiep. You state that the letter was presented to Interior on July 23, but in actuality it was not. Messrs. de Brum and | ken passed it informally to Department of Energy officials at the conclusion of the July 23 meeting, and DOE agreed to respond. We will be in touch with DOE on the subject, and will offer comments either jointly or separately. Also on page 7 and thereafter you refer to work done by Dr. Reuben Merliss, of Beverly Hills, California, concerning Wotje Atoll. You also refer to his letter of July 15 to Gordon Stemple, a Beverly Hills attorney, a copy of which you enclosed, and you ask to meet with us concerning it. We will be giad to do so. I note that in his long letter Dr. Merliss does not mention Wotje, but the contents of his letter are such thatItwould be useful if DOE repre- sentatives could join us in such a meeting. If you will be in touch with my office, we will arrange a meeting at a mutually convenient time, with DOE representatives included. Sincerely, Wallace 0. Green Wallace 0. Green Assistant Secretary Designate Territorial and International Affairs Enclosures bee: Dr. Bruce Wachholz, DOE cc: Hon. Phillip Burton Hon. Henry M. Jackson Amb. Peter R. Rosenblatt Mr. Jeffrey Farrow m # OC paehe, —