. hoo So RE She +: als + * oe : . a . : ‘ _" 3 ‘ oea 7ojme ae : 7 i : . . . . a : 27 Tb a MA Met ‘hem . n eo. atirrgh . “ * . “- 8 Bee wots As . a . ws AORBOE : “aeCOPYAVAILABLE os Geewo yee, ¥ of : fs wy i ye 4 pe . Ph oe ed cee eee We ts vu. 24, WO. Ld FYn ~ Commentary: INTEGRITY OF HEAL by Jeffrey Jefferson marshall islands atomic litigation project The August release of the "Guinea Pig" report, which documents the long history of ? ' f Islands detonation. in a detailed discussion the report documents instances where Atomic Energy Commission as the AEC cut off funding for scientific research projects risks associated with low-level the a more critical time for the people of the Marshall islands. To an unparalleled degree, it i the people of the Marshall scientists tw falsify field reports, transferred scientists false information disseminated by the -AEC to their irreparable detriment. This security’ any scientific results lies and to health coverups and by the enviromental radiation, could mot come at islands who relied upon the reliance, combined with the axtensiveness of the weapons testing program conducted within the Marshal] islands have created the most vivid example to date of not only the dangers radiation, fundamental af low-levd but also raise — ~ questions conceming the vory integrity of the AEC, and the standard of conduct by the United States as trustee under the United Nations Agreement. To begin, it is important to recognize that the report has as os) focus the nuclear weapons testing conducted at the Nevada test site. However, the conclusions are drectly applicable to - the situation in the Marshall Islands in that the report establishes, goverment through records, the AEC's level af understanding as to health and enviromental! risks aS a time prior to the which raised questions as to health risks nuciear testing, involved in instructed who woidd not participate in the coverups, and classified under the pretext of ‘national that did not support the AEC's thesis that nuclear testing was ‘safe’. it i here that the report reaches its most important conclusion, a conclusion which relates directly to questions now facing the people of the Marshall Islands. The report concludes that a conflict of interest exits between the AEC's role as the promoter of nuclear technology, and its role as the funding authority for radiation health research. The report finds the conflict continues to this day, and further motes that the AEC's successor agencies—— the Department of Energy, the Department of Defense, and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, are also subject to ‘this conflict. , In light of these disclosures serious questions must be ask concerning the implementation "of the Marshall Islands health mandated care plan LAW PUBLIC 24 Ae WM oe. fhe he PERaaM wee cata aw. by ;AEC's successor agencies mist be viewed with not only a great deal of suspicion but also with a degree cf alarm. For only time will show if the medical monitoring program established pursuant to the new Federal Act will be one designed to meet the bealth needs of the Marshallese people, or if it will be one, the mtent of which, will be continue to down play health risks associated with nuclear exposure. Recognizing the people from the have various affected differing atnils solutions to many of the nuclear related issues before them today, and further that the Marshail islands Government is now also involved in these issues as the representative of an emerging independent nation, nevertheless all would seem to ° share a common goal insofar as any health monitoring program is concerned. That goal must be to ins@e the integrity of any health care program so established. Given the AEC's past record it is inconceivable that this agency's successors would eve =obe considered for Participation in this task. While some issues remain -the subject of dispute among the involed parties, such as the scope of the health care program as evidenced by the positions taken at the recent po-20% Washington DC meeting on fog . 6 - Me : iaeste S Yisan ,, pttPeet tee “oe - Pe eae ey * fla aie tae Ah: ro