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UNITED STATES
RA
ENERGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, Rrj A
NEVADA OPERATIONS OFFICE ADMINISTRATIVEGtF pvt
cas
ve ©. BOX 14100
PROJECTOFFICER
S VEGAS, NEVADA 89114
PROGRAM SPECIALISTTYG
OCT i
SEND COPY TO:
Jenos L. Liverman, Director
4975
402260
Division of Biomedical and
Imvilromentsl Research, HQ
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BIQOKHAVEN PROGRAM AT BIKINI
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REMARKS: Wat oY fog mercer Word
Sesser CREE KES ey
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Ag I reported to you following my recent visit to Pili, Majuro and 7/74 Feey
Rildni in the Marshall Islends, there are, among even relatively wall 7774"
informed citizens of the Marshalls, serious mlisunderstendings of our
actions and plens relative to tho returning populetions of Bildni end
II,
3
Fnewetsk. The most serlous misumderstending derives from tho associa~
tion through the person of Dr. BR. A. Conard, with our past and current
programs involving the populetions of Utirik and Ponzgelap,
For elmost 22 years, Dr. Conamt and his colloaguos have provided
mocical surveillence, cere end trectment for the Rongclap and Utirlk
populations, who ere ackcovledged to have susteined significant .
racietion injury as & consequence of the BRAVO event at Bikini on
Herch 1, 195k. Usecuse many of the Fongelop peonle have over tha
years cisrated to othsr ctolls, Dr, Conard's visitetions havo included
these other locations eng his nome hss become moim (gencrally most
fevorebly) throughout the Ecrshalls,
Zqually wicesproad has besn the
_ knowledge of the roal (amd some imagined) radiation relatcd injuries
which occurred at Rongclap., The psople of the Marshalls, perheps nore
then eny other populetion save thet of Japen, era well sensitized to
the dangers of radiction and wlth little herd knowledge and even less
widerstanting thoy are quite easily moved to feer amd epprchonsion.
In Nay of 1969, fcllowing the decision to return the Bikini people to
their hone, a press roleese wos made (Enclosure 1) snnow:cing that
Dre Conemd had becn nemed to conduct "routine medical surveillance"
of the returning people. Soon thereafter, Dr, Conard visited Ki14
to meet the Bikini people and assure then that they vould be returning
under safe conditions end that conditions which micht affect their
sefety would be regularly monitored.
As TI heve told you, sone of
rhet vas sald on that visit was eoperently misunderstood or carricd
into a diffcrent context where it eppcered to be in conflict with
othcy more recent ENDA stetemonts. We ere texing steps to resolve
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