14:21 18/85/94 NO.139 ae — RES-DRB > 3019833445 038 OFFICE OF THE HICH COMMISSIONER-Im reply refer to: sor UE L745 BEST COPY AVAILABLE “AY 6 1858 Major General P. W. Clarkson Commander, JointTask Force Seven APO 187 (HOW), c/o P.M. San Fracisco, California (Inter-Island) Pear General Clarkson: Dr. John Bugher, Director of Division of Biology and Medi- cine, Atomic Energy Commission, conferred with my staff on Monday, May 3, during his brief stopover here en route to his headquarters in Washington. He informed us thet tne Utirik people will be able to return to their home atoll as previously scheduled following the completion of the current testing operations, provided that inspections reveal absence of radioactive materials in quantity injurious to health. Dr. Bagher could not give us a definite date of return, but we assume that it will te sometime in June as previously planned. He also informed us that the earliest date of return of the Ronzelap people, considering safety factors, would te at least six months from this date; but for planning purposes it wold be best to opsrate under the assumption that they would te away from their hom for one year in order to afford a sufficient margin of safety. . Dr. Bugher plans periodic inspections by AEC medical personnel of the Rongelap people in their new location as well as after re~ turm to their home atoll, and the Irvst Territory agrees to cooperate in making these inspection trios possitle with a minimm of inconvenience. Dr. Sugher recognized that from the time of relocation the operating authority will be the Trust Territory, although costs arising in con- mection with the RNongelap as well as the Utirik people will te borne by the AEC. He shared our thoasht that the necessary lozietic services will reqiire drawing upon the resources of the Navy. We have discussed the few possitle relocation sites for the Ronzelap people at length, taking into consideration the advantases and G :A é disadvantages ofeach possibility from the point of view of lo istics, BSrDGELPERIGALVRSsical care, and the socioloyical and psychological ef826 U.S AFOMIGENERGS. We heave agreed that the three adjacent islets of ox LOMMISSION TT Teb eolder BRAVO Dwys CLASSIFICATION CANCELLED \sra bY . atl lolte yee Aty 3/30/88 / oS