ae _ RUTGERS THE STATE UMIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY LIVINGSTON COLLEGE *GRADUATE PROGRAM IN ANTHROPOLOGY NEW BRUNSWICK + NEW JERSEY 08903+ 201/032-2508 — _-_ June 24, 1980 = os HOR ley Mr, Cliff Sloan Office of Rep. Sidney 8. Yates 2234 Bayburn House Office Building Weshington, D.C. 20515 Dear Cliff: I am writing this letter as a follow-up to our meeting of April 14th, and also to bring you up to date on some points concerning the Marshall Islands and the Enewetak resettlement. By now I am certain of your growing bewilderment in these matters due to the many, and often-contradictory, reports your Office receives relating to the Marshalls. I mist say that you have my sympathies in attemptiny: to untangle this “nuclear quagmire,® and hope this correspondence will be of some help in your attempt to understand the myriad complexities in the Marshall Islands. , I should like to say at the outset that I have always favored prudence and caution when dealing with problems associated with radiation in the Marshalls, and the entire history of the United States’ testing program bespeaks the need for very careful analysis and consideration of all relevant factors affecting the well-being of the Marshallese. A case in point is the current dilemma facing the Enewetak Islanders, and particularly the people of Injebi, who ere understandably anxious to returmto their ancestral island after living in exile for thirty-three years. It is my sincere feeling that the people of Injebi should be allowed to return to their home island, but only on the condition that it is “safe* for them to return. I use quotations around the word “sefe" because the whole question of Enjebi revolves around the meaning end interpretation of what constitutes “safe." As you are Well-awere, this notion of what constitutes a "safe" level of radiation is one of the most hotly-debated issues in the nuclear field, and it is nearly impossible to find two reputable radiation experts who will agree about a “safe"* level of radiation. In the following paragraphs, I would like to briefly outline some major points which I think are relevant to the EInjebi question, and I would like to reiterate my esrlier request for truly independent radietion experts in the Marshall Islands in order to prevent further conflicts of interest regarding the interpretation of radiological deta in the Marshells. If independent radiation experts prolong the njebi resettlement for an additional six months or so, then so be itl ~ikx more months is a short time in relation to the thirty-three years BEST COPY AVAILABLE