7 0© AOL GS UNITED STATES R ENERGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION NEVADA OPERATIONS OFFICE . P, O. BOX 14100 LAS VEGAS, NEVADA 89114 : US DOE ARCHIVES $26 US ATUMIC EN LEGCY wy, RG James L. Liverman, Director COMtecray The SUIUIN Collection DBM -EP FILES Division of Biomedical and Environmental Research, HQ Box 6060 Tob 7723 BROOKHAVEN PROGRAM AT BIKINI {FoldcrMRA t Cwswetsehe . ASE = eer Wed Dee 19975 As I reported to you following my recent visit to Kili, Majuro and Bikini in the Marshall Islands, there are, among even relatively well informed citizens of the Marshalls, serious misunderstandings of our actions and plans relative to the returning populations of Bikini and Fnewetak. The most serious misunderstanding derives from the association through the person of Dr. R. A. Conard, with our past and current programs involving the populations of Utirik and Rongelap. For almost 22 years, Dr. Conard and his colleagues have provided medical surveillance, care and treatment for the Rongelap and Utirik populations, who are acknowledged to have sustained significant radiation injury as a consequence of the BRAVO event at Bikini on March 1, 1954. Because many of the Rongelop people have over the years migrated to other atolls, Dr. Conard's visitations have included these other locations and his name has become known (generally most favorably) throughout the Marshalls. Equally widespread has been the knowledge of the real (and some imagined) radiation related injuries which occurred at Rongelap. The people of the Marshalls, perhaps more than any other population save that of Japan, are well sensitized to the dangers of radiation and with little hard knowledge and even less understanding they are quite easily moved to fear and apprehension. In May of 1969, following the decision to return the Bikini people to their home, a press release was made (Enclosure 1) announcing that Dr. Conard had been named to conduct "routine medical surveillance" of the returning people. Soon thereafter, Dr. Conard visited Kili to meet the Bikini people and assure them that they would be returning under safe conditions and that conditions which might affect their safety would be regularly monitored. As I have told you, some of what was said on that visit was apparently misunderstood or carried into a different context where it appeared to be in conflict with other more recent ERDA statements. e &,e N “A z = 2 = i Teoe etTe Mak teis: Tota re ? A the; “i We are taking steps to resolve - on fo" Coe ete “i . 7 Fost et,