In light of the possible change in ICRP maximum permissible dose for the individual, the size of the study group may change in the future. 3. The dosimetry of the islands involved in the March 1, 1954 accident is uncertain. It has been restudied and revised repeatedly as new technology and new data become available. population dosimetry is possible. Under the circumstances, only It would appear from the pathologic results, at least to the thyroids of some of the children of Rongelap, that the individual variations might be considerably higher than was previously estimated (private communication with J. E. Rall, M.D., Director of the Institute of Metabolic and Allied Diseases, National Institutes of Health). 4. population, Irrespective of the calculated doses to the exposed the development of radiation~related disease for which the DOE/BNL/DOI has accepted moral and fiscal responsibility has fixed in the minds of the Marshallese the fact that they and their land have been "poisoned" (synonymous with the Marshallese word for radiation). This intellectual, psychological, and emotional set is deep-rooted and probably cannot be erased. 5. of Micronesia. The Marshallese consider themselves a "unique" subpop «tion Their documented "injury" by the U.S., supported by anti-nuclear world opinion, gives them great political and economic leverage. Their recent movement for "free association” will probably not progress to independence, without firm guarantees, in writing, by the United States, that we will continue to compensate the people for injury and damage to their land. Their current con- cept includes the descendants of those people who have been identified as "injured" through property and/or physical loss. 6. Conversely, the U.S. would like to resolve these claims equitably and to place some reasonable time limit on U.S. liability. peers 5 Soe Beg