© O.8. COVERNMENT PRINTING OPPISE: 1979-289-008 us PCE ARCHER ES EC LG 32, ADe = sl Collection Box. i Jee {3 | Folder PSO August 21, 1979 Mr. Theodore Mitchell Executive Director Micronesian Legal Services Corporation, Suite 300 1424 Sixteenth Street, N.W. Washington, D. C. 20036 RTS. SYMBOL ] Dear Mr. Mitchell: (eave The Department of Energy 4s pleased to respond to your letter of August 3, 1979, {n which you requested copies of a number of records pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act. The following responses [ave. svmao. PumIvtACET Ola. are numbered to coincide with your numbered requests. xe Ii swITIALS/ Ste. LeeNED Oars Item No. 1. The statement {s based upon test{mony presented by Messrs. DeBrum, Weissgal}, Deal, DeYoung and Mrs. Van Cleve, and others Hearings before Subcommittees of the Committee on Appropriations, House of Representatives, on April 12, May 22, and June 19, 1978, a ara, SYMBOL RY GR INITIALS/ BIG. Coptes of pertinent portionsof that testimony are enclosed (Tab A). Additional relevant information fs available in the Hearings testimony conducted by the Subcommittee on July 25, 1978. of the final transcript of this testimony. fo: We do not have a copy BATE RTS. SYMBOL Reports from Brookhaven National Laboratory indicated that the Cesfum-137 }———--— weitiacs/ SIG. levels of Bikini residents increased with time until 1978, and decreased thereafter (post-relocation). These data were based upon whole body counting measurements. A summary of this information is enclosed (Tab B). This fncrease in body burden coincided with increased availability of locally grown terrestrial foods, particularly coconuts. The Cestum-137 ) usmeennamsnenaemeammned DATE jt RTS. SYMBOL measurements suggest that either the quantity of imported food available nad tITIALS/ B10. people was below that level needed to moderate the increase in Cesium-137 Le A aDDSSS DATE to the people or the quantity of available {mported food consumed by the body burdens as locally grown foods became available. eos 7c. SYMBOL Item No. 2. The aerial photographs of Bikini Atoll (which I believe have previously been sent to you show that the Bikini and Eneu fslands are separated by approximately five miles of reef. possible to walk from one island to the other. DOE FORM AD-3 (12-77) OFFICIAL FILE COPY Oe SMITIALS] At low tide it is Considering the facts s- BATE SIG, a