J United States Department ofthe Interior ee matEneSR pee Te OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY WASHINGTON, D.C. 20240 . 401400 SEP 12 1a7e Dear Scnater Borja: This is a followup to wy Letter of July 24,-1975 which promieed that we would keep you informed of progresa here with respect to the proposed Rongelap compensation matter, Auchorizing legislation is aow being drafted. On a nuaber of points, the Department hac diverged somewhat from the guidelinos which you submitted in your letcer of Nay 22, 1975. Most of our proposed changes are in the nature of- clarification although we lave reservationa on one or two aspects. (1. "Paynenta to the 24 exposed Rongelapese who have had ehyzoid glands rewaoved by surgery.’ “After coneultation with Dr. SBovert Conard, it waa decided to expand ‘thia section by providing equal compensation for the two hoygs who @ustained marked iudury to their thyroids as evidenced hy atrophy aud also for an individual who bad surgical removal of a aeck "tumor, 2. "Payments im equal aiiounts of $50,000 of coupensation each to the natural mother and father of leukemia victina, (deceased), and of $50,000 cach to cha natural mother and father of any future leukewala vietius whosa tilnesces can be eertiftied by Uxrcokiiaven Mational Laboratory or its successor, a6 batug rcudtation, rclatad,” Considerable ditficulty vas experienced @lth this dren. Wa undaratand the speedtal reasons woy bath the natural mother and Cather vere Ginyled owt in the case of The clsuse specifying siisdlar payment to natural paronts fin any future eccurrence would be restrictive and poasibly detrimental to the direct heirs of any such individual. While it da not anticipated that any future causes will ariae, it isu our belief here that any referonce to compensation of thie nature should aimply apecify, “the heirs of a person dying from radiation-related causes." A hypothetical case waht be that of an adult male whose vatural parents ore deceased but who leaves a wife and family. Conpenusation specified by law to “natural parents,” who might be [be. Rovere Conard "BEST COPY AVAILABLE cy PRIVACYACT MATERIAL REMOVED oe ‘we. KR