The ERDA Letters to the People of Rongelap and Utirik Earlier drafts of letters may have to be altered in view of recent events and visits to the Islands, and future program changes. Consider also the Heine objections to the draft of the Utirik letter, the Utirik suit and Bakal and Bakal letter - Response to the Bakal and Bakal Letter? Annual Medical Checkup on Bikini and Eniwetok People At the ERDA ~ DOI meeting last year, the view was expressed that the people moving back to these atolls would have to be treated as a special group of Marshallese and that an annual medical check, for psychological reasons (reassurance) if for nothing more, was desirable. Note that the Bikini people have requested by letter that the BNL medical group visit them; also that Congressman Balos has publically expressed disappointment that the Eniwetok program does not include medical examinations for the returning people. Thyroid Control Study In order that the thyroid findings in the exposed Marshallese (subject to litigation and compensation) be placed on firmer ground, more information on. the general incidence of thyroid abnormalities in umexposed Marshallese “populations is necessary. A thyroid survey of unexposed people of Utirik, Rongelap and Wotje atolls has been started, but approval by ERDA is desired so that thyroid surgery, along with pathologic diagnoses, can be achieved on individuals on whom thyroid tumors require surgery. Compensation Bill for Rongelap and Utirik People At the request of DOI, an updated summary of medical findings has been prepared. The extensiveness of the findings, along with the probability of further findings, perhaps should be briefly discussed. Only 23 of 65 exposed Rongelap now living are not listed as having thyroid abnormalities. fs SO11304