Significantly,

in a similar context -- the nuclear

Cleanup of Enewetak Atoll - another U.S. Government agency

has strongly argued in favor of a truly independent assessment.

In a May 8,

1979 report to the U.S. Congress prepared

by the U.S. General Accounting Office, the Comptroller General
of the United States stated

(p. 18):

Significant radiological aspects of the cleanup
portion of the Enewetak Atoll project have not

been independently assessed by organizations with
no connection or interest in the nuclear testing
program.
This situation could conceivably raise

guestions on the objectivity of the project.
Independent assessments are, in our opinion,
unequivocally dictated by the importance of the.
project to the peoples of Enewetak and the United
States.
Supporting this is the recent Bikini
incident [and] the uncertain, long-term effects

of exposure to low level
(Emphasis added.)
ERI,

radiation

.

led by internationally respected nuclear

scientists, has submitted a modest budget and scope of work
to DOE setting forth the minimum tasks it must perform in
order to

"assist

[the Bikinians}

in making a decision with

respect to resettlement," which is required by the courtapproved

agreement.

These tasks,

as noted above, must include

an independent collection and radiological measurement of
samples from Bikini Atoll.

ERI must also take into account

documents reviewing the dosage of radioactivity people received
fron living on Bikini Island in the 1970's as well as the
comparative medical

status of the Bikinians.

The goal of this

Select target paragraph3