SOF XII. Four Atoll Proposal - Issues and Alternatives = A. Introduction Both the Department of Energy historically, and the Bur on Bill more recently, have identified the people of Bikini, Enewetok, Rondelap and Utirik as having the most direct radiation effects. Those individuals ac- tually included were decided by various factors, primarily thdir location during the nuclear testing activities. Not surprisingly therd are many anecdotal challenaes to the established list of affected indiWiduals which will probably continue to be claimed throughout this and perhdps even succeeding generations. It is increasingly evident that the actual health impac} on even the most directly affected is minimal. of radiation This not only|further com- plicates any attempt to distinguish these individuals from ot§ers, but also raises the question of the need for maintaining this distinctjon. In many ' respects, the categorical separation of the affected and non-affected groups appears to primarily be a political issue. The language of Public Law 96-205 reflects the difficulfy in establishing this distinction and also what responsibility the U. B. Government should assume for both the health and political/sociological their nuclear testing program. Jmpact of In the narrowest sense it calfs forthe pro- vision of primary, secondary and tertiary care for the "peoplps of" the four most directly affected atolls. Certainly any plan propobed should include this comprehensive care for this particular identifieH group, but limitation of improved health care to only these people raiseB serious political, ethical, and cost-effective issues. It is important to detail these more specifically. HO