from Governor Scott Matheson of Utah, the Department of Energy undertook
to declassify and release all information on the effects of fallout.
Establishing the Offsite Radiation Exposure Review Project, the department collected all relevant records and data relating to atmospheric
testing and fallout, deposited them in a Coordination and Information
Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, and used the data to reassess radiation
“doses to the local residents.
A year later the department established a
Dose Assessment Advisory Group to provide advice and general direction
to the Offsite Radiation Exposure Review Project..°°
Dr. Joseph Lyon, an epidemiologist who published a controversial
study of the radiation effects of fallout in 1979, found that the child-
hood leukemia rate for children in southern and eastern Utah tripled for
the years 1959 to 1967.
possible
link
between
Lyon believed that his data established a
testing
and
childhood leukemia.
Although
scientists questioned his methodology, the government intensified its
investigations of the health effects of fallout.
News of Lyons' study,
and of the alleged injuries to former soldiers, however, had sparked a
wave of claims against the government requesting damages for illness
caused by fallout radiation.
litigation
cases
billion, ©
federal
1980.
alleged
damages
totaling
over
$2
the United States
in
°
Ronald Reagan was
November
with
elected President of
Although the
government's
role
in
new President promised
energy
requiation
and
to
reduce
management,
the
he
y
radiation
By mid 1982 the department faced over 53