4114 UNITED STATES ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. Mr. Hamlet J. Barry, III Marshalls Office Post Office Box 3/76 ‘Majuro, Marshall Islands 20545 96960 Dear Mr. Barry: Enclosed are answers to the questions raised in your letter of April 17, 1974. We hope that you will find them responsive and complete. The Atomic Energy Commission was the Federal agency responsible for surveying Bikini in 1967 and advising the President on whether it would be in the best interests of the Bikini people to permit them to return to their home atoll. The actual recommendation was made by an Ad Hoc Committee which was appointed to review the survey data and assess the health risk. Since then, AEC has offered technical guidance to the Department of Defense and the Department of the Interior in cleaning up and rehabilitating the atoll. We are continuing our radiological surveys of the environment and the residents, as stated in our commitment, to assure that predicted exposures are not being exceeded. The results of these surveys will be made available to the Bikini people and their advisors when available. We believe your suggestion that Mr. McCraw, or some other knowledgeable AEC staff member, visit the Bikinians again to discuss the radiological situation on the atoll and answer questions is excellent. IL will be pleased to discuss the possibility of such a Visit with the Department of the Interior. Sincerely, James L. Liverman, Director Division of Biomedical and Environmental Research Enclosures: As stated SMM So oo 58