UNITED STATES ENERGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20545 April 21, 1977 W. W. Burr, Deputy Director, BER COMMENTS ON H.R. BILL 6110 105 (a) (1) Change to: The Secretary shall pay $25,000 to each such individual from whom the thyroid gland ar.a neurofibroma was surgically removed, or who deve lop&d.a—dysfunction -of-the-thyroid, or - who develops a cancer knon to be related to radiation % exposure. > hag pothynecelren ne — 105 (a) (3) Comment: Based on our experience with other exposed human populations to date, 105 (a) (1) covers all effects that one could expect to see. Section (3) is vague and very broad and snould either be omitted or the wording should be changed to identify specifically "the injuries" that are covered. 105 (a) (4) Comment: The wording gives Interior specifically the responsibility to provide medical care for exposed Marshallese. This raises the questions whether this is a deliberate change of the present status and whether we can live with this. On the other hand by changing words, ERDA could take the responsibility. ERDA never has been given official responsibility for the exposed Marshallese. This could be of help to justify ERDA support before Congress in the future. 105 (b) Comment: This provision should be omitted from this Bill for two reasons -it should not be in a compensation bill and the wording with regard to the spending of the funds is vague. } cc: VERE ee oom erie: Bill Brown, OGC .% LS mE ak Aint eRe Walter H. Weyzen, Manager Human Health Studies Program/BER mega pe prem a ge FNQRERSVeerrweR MPFE eta mek ea 6dtiteced