. . . ma + . + eee . :, . eo. 2 Ce 4 a e. Td wT =o ee * : Daa . t e aas be wins Tt Tt eh er ee awh tS United States Department of the Interior noes . : nate he einen bh _> th Cal’ OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY WASHINGTON, D.C. 20240 Honorable Ruth Clusen 1 po 4a SEP 28 1978 Assistant Secretary for Environment Department of Energy _ Washington, D.C. Dear Ms. 20585 Clusen: problems in the Marshall Islands, i.e., the start of the long delayed aerial radiological survey of the Northern Marshalls, the unfortunate circumstances which culminated in the reloca- tion of the residents of Bikini Island and the increasing pace of the cleanup and rehabilitation program for Enewetak Atoll, have highlighted the need for a top-level coordination meeting Of the agencies directly involved in these matters. High Commissioner Adrian P. week of October 8, 1978, an interagency meeting. ise tae Labuan The series of events of the past year relating to radiological Winkel will be in Washington the and this will be an opportune time for I suggest, then, involved with these matters that the principals in the Department of Energy, in the Defense Nuclear Agency, and in the Department of the Interior, meet to discuss coordination for handling immediate problems, as well as to consider responsibilities for continuing needs. facing us by the changed the need for continued and expanded monitoring, both health and environmental, and the progress of the Enewetak Cleanup and Rehabilitation Program. As you know, Under Secretary James A. Joseph, Deputy Under Secretary Wallace Green, and I recently visited the Marshalls. in Conference Room 7000B, Main Interior Building, 18th and C D.C. Game= 20305 30 co shington, " MRS. RUTH G. VAN CLEVE Mrs. Ruth G. Van : Cleve Director . Office of Territorial Affairs T ce Admiral Robert R. Monroe rector, Defense Nuclear Agency | “ Sincerely yours, letter sent: bg oa Streets, Northwest. Identical 4 fi Regrettably, Under Secretary of the Interior James A. Joseph, in view of his keen personal interest in the continuing problems caused by United States nuclear testing in the Marshall Islands, plans to chair the meeting on October 12. It will be held at 10:00 a.m. TE: 1 Jw We went to Kili Island as well as to Bikini Atoll. our schedule did not permit us to visit Enewetak. | “ay the problems TOTTI a eee ee ft survey, situation concerning Bikini Atoll, = the radiological sows aur tba a Among the items which we propose to discuss are the status of