PEED SEDIERUSEES ey Social and Psychological Impact Considerations of DOE Radiological Protection Activities in the Marshall Islands $200,000 DOE scientific findings, and resultant recommendation to DOI and DOD in their cleanup and rehabilitation of nuclear testing Atolls, are forcing disruptive life-style changes among the Marshallese. This pilot study during FY 79 will initiate a 3-year program designed to determine effective methods of cross-cultural communications that will promote understanding of DOE radiological protection activities in the Marshalls. FY 79 efforts will place two persons experts in social and psychological evaluation in the Pacific for 6 months to study and gather information on Marshallese comprehension of past activities, their misunderstandings and apprehensions, and will support followup field trips and consultation with other DOE contractor This will be followed in FY 80 and staff who work in the Marshalls. 81 by development and testing of a communication process. Our best scientific work to promote radiological health and safety in the Marshalls is being blunted by a lack of effective communications of results. Currently our efforts to apply radiation protection standards are not understood and the people's supicion is that they are part of an experiment using human subjects. DOE's credibility is Sagging. OES is operating on ES&H data collection and analysis system for the Marshalls. We need an effective system for reporting results. High priority - DOE lacks the know-how to effectively communicate with Marshallese people on ES&H matters.