Cancer Institute. Bethesda. Maryland. and is returned for bumai at Rongelap. overexposures were found, it was necessary to evacuate the people in order to prevent unaccept- A group from the Safety and Environmental ments. able increases in their body burden ofthese eie- Protection Division at BNL carry out radiological surveys in the Marshall Islands to be coordinated with the medical examinations and personnel monitoring. Aenairadiological surveys of the Northern . Marshall Islands completed. Robert Conard retires, Medical Director of the Special bills passed by Congress of Micronesia regarding further compensation to Rongelap and Utink people, and providing special benefits and hospitalizauion privileges in case of illness from any cause. 1981 Twenty houses completed at Bikini and more peopie returned. 1985 program for 26 years. Hugh Pratt and Eugene Cronkite temporarily headed the program from 1979-81. Between 1969-74, 14 Marshallese, one exposed in utero, had thyroid surgery in the U.S. The total thus far is 26 people. Thefirst ship to be used for medical examinations obtained, named Liktanur. 1977 Marshallese nurse end laboratory technician hired by BNL to support the resident physician in the islands. 1978 Radiological monitoring of 140 people on Bikini reveals unexpected increase in absorption of radioactive elements from the consumption of freshly grown fruits on the island. Although no "tL pattie SER TY Le CO ve IG04213 William Adams assumes directorship of the Marshall Island Medical Program. Rongelap people, mistrustful of DOE feports of the radiological safety of their atoll, are evacu- ated from their island by Greenpeace to an unsatisfactory island (Mejato) in Kwajalein | Atoll. 1986 BNL's resident physician program terminated because of increased U.S. fundingfor general health care in the Northern Marshall Islands. 1990 The appearance of thyroid tumors has declined in the past five years. About one-third of the exposed Rongelap people and a small numberof Utirik people have developed tumors. 1991 Jean Howard joins Adams in administering the program.