BNL|| BROOKHAVEN NATIONAL LABORATORY 401898 AU ASSOCIATED UNIVERSITIES, INC. UPTON, LiL, N.Y. 11973 Tevernone: (516) 345-3977 | | MEDICAL DEPARTMENT January 8, 1976 Senator Olympio T. Borja ' Chairman, Special Joint Committee Concerning Rongelap and Utirik Atolis Congress of Micronesia Saipan, Mariana Islands 96950 Dear Senator Borja: Thank you for your letter of Dec. 30, 1975. I am sorry you did not receive the copics of our Twenty Year Report which I sent both to you and Ataji some time ago - with an autographed statement expressing my appreciation fox your support. I will forward to you by separate mail .four more copies of the report. . . : i Regarding PL 5-52 there has been considerable misunderstanding | - among the people about the bill. I heard recently, however, that Dr. Riklon was in Ebeye to help straighten matters out. Implementation of this law is the Trust Territory's responsibility and I hope it can be made to function smoothly. We are trying to complete the identifica-_ tion card system, though already people are losing them, ye} I trust you got a copy of my recent letter to the Interior, concern- ing the latest Utirik thyroid cases. TI understand that they are alter- ing the Utirik compensation taking this into consideration. IT have just completed our itinerary for the March-April survey and enclose a copy. We will have five doctors and three technicians and Tf have asked the Trust Territory to furnish a practioner or medex and three technicians. I have also suggested that one of their people accompany us to explain and answer questions about PL 5-52 and the Compensation Bill. Though we will be pretty crowded on the LCU we would be happy to have you or Ataji go along. Our survey will concentrate on thyroid examinations as well as other possible late effects of radiation and we expect to continue our investigation of diabetes ~ one of the big medical problems in the Marshallese and also assist in the V.0, and immunization programs if desired. We also expect to take four thyroid cancer cases to Tripler Hospital in Honolulu hot fy 7 INFORMATION OPERATOR [G1G} 345-2123 i: ) oy finn, Set F at the end of the survey for thorough check-ups, \ | |