401698 United States Department of the interior OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY WASHINGTON, D.C. 20240 Dear Mr. DEC? i976 Maldonado: This is to formalize discussions Miss Johnson of my staff has had with you and Dr. Weinstein concerning the request for two physicians from the U.S. Public Health Service to assist ERDA's medical team in providing medical examinations to the people of the Rongelap and Utirik Atolls in the Marshall Islands. As you know, general medical care of Micronesians is the responsi- bility of the administration of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, However, for the past 20 years, ALC/ERDA had conducted a program of medical surveillance and treatment of the people of Rongelap and Utirik who were exposed to fall-out. It has been suggested that U.S, Public Health Service physicians might be assigned for a period of approximately six weeks to assist the ERDA medical team in this humanitarian effort. If such an assignment is agreeable to all concerned, Dr, Robert A. Conard, M.D., Medical Department, Brookhaven National Laboratory, will contact Dr. Sheridan Weinstein concerning the kind of medical specialists desired in the forthcoming medical survey planned for March and April 1977. We appreciate your willingness to cooperate in this mission. Sincerely yours, (sgd.}) Fred M. Zeder IT Fred M. Zeder II Director of Territorial Affairs Mr. Joseph P. Maldonado Regional Director Department of [lealth, Education, and Welfare 50 Fulton Street San Francisco, California 94102 cc: (Walter Weyzen, M.D.