tive measurements of radiation on the isiand and in the people that the leveis in the people remained weil within the acceptable range and were lower than peopie in the United States (A-15). Radiclogical studies had been conducted at Enewetak, Bikini, and other Northern Marshall Islands. The results were presented in several bilingual booklets with illustrated maps of the atolls. In the booklets describing the results of the 1978 Northern Marshalls Survey (A-53, 58), a numerical designator was used to showrelative radiation levels on the various atoHs. This - mode of presentation was confusing and was misinterpreted as showing a radiation profile for Rongelap similar to that of Bikini. Before ‘our medical visit, a team of DOE scientists and administrators visited each of the populated atoils in the survey area to expiain the contents of the booklet. Regrettably, at Rongelap, a disturbance in the community terminated a DOE visit prematurely. Although there was no reasonto believe that the disturbance was related to the DOE presentation, one DOE official was injured, and the party leader decided thatit was prudent to move on (B-80). I was told by Roger Ray that this was done with considerable regret, and that had the party been permitted to compiete its question and answer discussion, the later evacuation of Rongeljap might not have occurred. Despite DOE’s efforts to clarify the misunderstandings in discussions with the Marshali Islands authorities, there remained a degree of true and justified apprehension among the Rongelap people (B-81). Finally, in 1985, things came to a head. The local Rongelap Council, under the jeadership of Jeton Anjain, a Senator in the Nitijela (the oat dee a ewe a ee ee Marshall Island Parliament), who represented the Rongelap people, permitted the Greenpeace Organization to send their ship, The Rainbow | Warrior, to Rongelap to evacuate theisland. The people were taken to a small island, Mejato, in Kwajalein atoll, where a temporary village had been set up. The island was most unsatisfactory, with minimal naturalresources, and worst of all, no anchoragefor ships. The Rongelap Council beganefforts to reeval- uate the radiological safety of Rongelap (B-82). The Rongelap Reassessment Project was established under contract with the Republic of the Marshall Islands. Henry I. Kohn, an Emeritus Professor from Harvard Medicai School, headed the programwith ten consultants, three of whom were nominated by the Rongelap Council. S008 194 After an exhaustive review of the DOE data on Rongelap, the project reported in 1988 (B-83) that Rongelap Island was safe for habitation for. adults, but that further study was necessary to be certain that the island was safe for children. The Rongelap Council was unhappy with the Kohn report, claiming, amongother things, that the data submitted by the consultants they had nominated were not properly used. Brookhaven National Laboratory and Lawrence Livermore Laboratory then carried out further studies which substantiated the earlier data, showing that Rongelap Island was indeed safe for habi- tation (B-79). In November 1989, a hearing on the radiological safety of Rongelap was held by the House Subcommittee on Insular and International Affairs (B-80). At this hearing, Kohn deciared that on furtherreview of the data on Rongeiap the island was considered safe for habitation by both adults and children. Still dissatisfied, the Rongelap Council petitioned the U.S. Congress for funds for further independent surveys to evaluate the radiological safety of Rongelap and, if necessary, clean up the island and construct a new village (B-84). In February 1992 the DOE and DOIsigned an agreement with the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Rongelap people allocating 2.5 | million dollars to continue studies of the radio- logical environment on Rongelap (B-103). The radiological analyses will be conducted by DOE’s Lawrence Livermore Laboratory and Brookhaven National Laboratory. The National Academyof Sciences will carry out an independent review of the findings. With this action it appears that progressis finally being made toward the eventual resettlement of Rongelap. In the meantime the Rongelap people continue to live in an unsatisfactory situation on Mejato Island in Kwajalein Atoil. | The Compactof Free Association, passed in 1986, would provide an estimated 750 million dollars over 15 years to the Republic of the Marshall Islands. As part of the agreement (Section 177), 150 million dollars (of the 750 million allocated) would cover the claims of the people of the atolla of the Northern Marshalls resulting from the nuclear testing program, including radiation injury, property damage, and continuing medicai care. The claims are handled by a Nuclear Claims Tribunal, char- tered under the terms of the Compactof Free Association. Exposed individuals with certain diseases are automotically reimbursed; those with other diseases are reviewed. 43