an inconvenience payment. yh . | lh ‘Your letter reflects an apparent misapprehension concerning the LL reason for cancelling the scheduled December 1976 visit to Utirik of the Brookhaven National Atoll Laboratory medical team. In actuality, \ be" the December visit was cancelled solely as a result of the expressed Me preference of the UtIrik population. fe of the ERDA medical Burling the September 1976 visit team to Utirik, the team leader, Or. Knudsen, wa Informed that {t was the desire of the UtIrik people that he see only the essential patlents and then depart, Dr. Knudsen discussed the purpose of the visits and ended his conversation by saying that he had come to Utirik prepared to work with the people. then he could not return, He stated that if he was not welcome, When Or. Knudsen departed he Informed the Magistrate that he would not be able to return to the people E[ndicated their desire that he do so. Thus, {slands until the in the absence of any positive sign of acceptance by the people, the next survey bypassed Utirik. | hope these comments assist you In your efforts on behalf of the Utlrik people and help to place ERDA's Trust Territory role in the proper perspective. As you can perhaps appreciate, aur own long time relation~ ship with the Utirtlk people has developed in us a deep concern for their welfare and has evoked strong support from us for the bill sponsored by the Department of the Interior. Sincerely, James L. Liverman Assistant Administrator ees 50 | | ? 19 for Environment and Safety