5. Environmental Monitoring, Research and Dose Assessment Program Plan (EMRDAP) for P.L. 96-205. - A. Uniqueness and Purpose of the Plan; Cost Assumptions The goal of this program plan (EMRDAP) is to define as precisely as possible what scientific and technical efforts wil] be required to implement the program, their cost, and to identify, where possible, influences which could alter, by either reducing or expanding, the scope of the EMRDAP. The preceding sections should help put the proposed program in context with past and current programs. The program of environmental monitoring and research should be coordinated with the medical and educationa) programs where it is appropriate but the EMRDAP is very different in several respects from the other two programs. The context of any EMRDAP will be affected by living and land-use patterns currently in place, by living and land use patterns which may occur in the future, by results which will be produced from current DOE research programs in the Marshall Islands and by social and political decisions made in the Marshall Islands. The required work, timelines and cost therefore can vary considerably depending upon many non-technical factors, and will be significantly affected by results from current DOE Marshall Island programs. Therefore, it is difficult to precisely define what will be required over the next several years other than in a general way relying extensively upon efforts necessary to generate past dose assessments and information from current DOE programs in the Marshall Islands. P.L. 96-205 will necessarily increase the time required to maintain monitoring and dose assessment efforts beyond that which would have occurred under the current programs. 26