AOA TS
May 8, 1975
MEMORANDUM FOR: H. Hollister Cantas, Director
Office of Cangressional Relations
HOUSE MILITARY SERVICES SUBCOMMITTEE HEARING
ON ENEWETAK CLEANUP
Date of Communication: May 7, 1975
Late Tuesday afternooa, Mr. b.cCraw, OS, Dr. YVachhols,
BER, and l were requested by DNA and the Microeessian Legal
Services, representatives of the Enewetak people, to sit in on
the committee meeting.
This was 3s contimation of the earlier
discussions with General Jobnson, Director ef DNA aad the
staffs of the Eenate and House Armed Services Committee.
Doering the course of the hearing, Mr. Ichord, Chairman,
asked for s statement from ERLA staff on the risk to the
people from radiation after cleanup.
I was spokesman for
ERDA and briefly reviewed the AEC-ERDA role in the Enewetak
cleanup and resettlement. I poted we were to provide radiologica!
cleamp criteria and long-term followup of the movement of radioactivity in the envircament and the health status of the people.
I told them that if the DNA cleaned the Atoll to our criteria and
if the Enewetak people observed the recommendations of the Task
Force, there would be no effects fram radiation which could be
observed above those that wouki result from the sormal radiation
background, We will follow themovement of the radiation in
the environment and the health status of the people. This program
is an extension of a program already underway to follow the
Rongelap satives who received radiation and some injury from
the fallout fram the weapons tests series.
The committee was
satisfied. We were not asked for any further information.
However, Gen. Jobnson was asked for the estimated total coat
to the U. 85. Government for the Enewetak program. We are
already supplying DNA this type of information and will see that
they receive the necessary information.
BEST AVAILABLE COPY
bee:
J.
L.
Liverman, AES
B. Wachholz, BER
L. Joe Deal
Aasistant
Health Pse
Division
OS:ADHP
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LJDe
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Folder{/2.-7
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Cleanup - (9757
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