AOR LAR
UNITED STATES
ATOMIC
ENERGY
COMMISSION
NEVADA OPERATIONS OFFICE
P.O. BOX 14100
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA 69114
MAR 5
Vor
BEST COPY AVAILABLE
Mahlon E. Cates
Manager
AEC PROGRAM OF MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS OF EXPOSED MARSHALLESE
For the past nineteen years, the AEC has been conducting annual
medical examinations of the Marshallese people who were acci-~
dentally exposed to fallout radiation in 1954.
The medical
examinations are conducted by a group of doctors and technicians,
headed by Dr. R. A. Conard of Brookhaven National Leboratory, at
the various island locations where the exposed Marshallese are now
living. The group examines exposed personnel at Hawaii, Ebeye,
Rongelap, Utirik and Majuro. NV has been assigned the responsi~
bility by Headquarters to provide logistic support for these
medical surveys.
DBER funds are furnished to NV to PASO/H&N.
Annual funding level for one survey per year and other support
has been $20,000. The logistic support funding covers the costs
of: transportation for BNL personnel and medical equipment,
miscellaneous services, supplies and non-medical equipment, travel
and per diem for Trust Territory personnel directly participating
in the surveys, and travel,
lodging and expenses for the exposed
Marshallese patients who are brought to the United States for
further medical treatment.
In connection with the future program requirements, Dr. Conard
has advised Bill Streenan that, based upon recent discussions
with DBER, BNL will be conducting two surveys per year in the
Marshall Islands rather than one. The surveys will continue to
cover the exposed Rongelapese and Utirikese and also start base
line studies at Bikini in preparation of the natives returning to
Bikini. Dr. Conard also advised Streenan that the Congress of
Micronesia Bill No. 89 (copy attached) was a subject of discussion
at Headquarters. You will note that this bill is quite unusual,
but it does give one a little insight as to the present political
trends in Micronesia.
It is possible this bill may result in
increased costs to the AEC because of the additional medical care
REPOSITORY
Doe/Aso
conection
—20 Lav wt
BOX No.
rovven
Jans,> “Exon
5
7/0-mMCO
3
BR. CONARD
CL zm(2 (923