aja The Intericr Department has not reached any detinicive posiciog with respect to the scope of the plan required, or of the program tq arise from it. Ir would walcome the early expressions of views from any source as to the requirements of the statuce. Preliminarily, the Incertior Departmenc suggests chac the mostreasonable readigg of che staeuta appears to be that the Secretary's plan should provideforcomprehensive health careforsheinhabitancs of thefour lisced atolls—Bikini, Shewetak, Rongelap, and Ucirik; and thac “the inhabitants.“ofad additional atblis should alsobe _afforded|_conprehensive_healch care.if ghey have been affected by_radianion.from che, muclear weapens. testing program. io¢ ding whether the inhabicants of additional arolls have been so affeceed, Orn Ot, oP td d From on-s: ry would consid evaluations of the people of these atolis, and ocher relevant presented to hin. healch evidence ee ee er: 3. The Interter Department has asked the Department of Energy to provide advice to Iarerior by mid-November 1990 as cto che detaifs of the schedule required by subsection (4)(2), percaining to envirpomencal research and monotoring, radiation dose assessmencs, and risk escimaces, and the education and informacion program required by subsection (a)(3). The Deparcment of Energy has agreed co provide chis detailed advice by that date. 4. Background informacion: (s} Rongelap and Ucirik The medical wonitoring and follow-up care program of the expesef pecple of Rongelap and Ucirik atolis commenced after che Bravo Shoe raklouc of March 1, 1954. This program has been the responsibility of thel Acomic Energy Commission, the Energy Research and Development AdminiscPfation, and now the Department of Energy. The medical monitoring and tbllow-up medical care program of che exposed residents of these two atolis, and for sembers of selected "comparison" groups, has from the onset]of the program been contracted to the Brookhaven National Laboratory, sociated Universities, Upcon, New York. 474,