AORIOO +Battelle Pacific Northwest Laboratories May 29, P.O. Box 999 1979 Richland, Washington U.S.A. 99352 Telephone (509) 946-242} Telex 32-6345 Mrs. Ruth Clusen Assistant Secretary for Environment Department of Energy Washington, D.C. 20545 Dear Ruth: The Northern Marshall Islands Advisory Group met March 27-28, 1979 at the National Bureau of Standards in Washington. Members present were: C. W. Francis, R. 0. Gilbert, J. W. Healy, R. 0. McClellan, C. R. Richmond, W. L. Templeton, R. C. Thompson, B. W. Wachholz, and W. J. Bair. Also present were Joe Deal, Tommy McCraw, Jay Beaufait, and Roger Ray. Joining for part of the discussion were Nat Greenhouse (BNL), and Robert Watters (OHER). The agenda jtems were: Plans for post-cleanup assessment of Enewetak, coconut planting on the Northern Enewetak Islands, participation of Marshallese in re-habitation decisions, levels of radionuclides in persons who temporarily returned to Bikini, and use of Rongelap coconut crabs for food. An additional agenda item at the request of Joe Deal was a review of the DOES draft statement to the Department of Interior on assessment of radiation doses to Marshallese if allowed to return to Eneu or Bikini Islands on the Bikini Atoll. The agenda topics were dealt with in very frank discussions with DOE staff, who are to be commended for their cooperation, patience and endurance. The following are brief comments on the agenda items, including, in some cases, the Advisory Group's recommendation: 1. Post-Cleanup Dose and Risk Assessment The plan for preparing a post-cleanup dose and risk assessment for Enewetak should be documented as soon as possible concurrent with continued preparation of the assessment. This documented plan snould assist the Livermore staff and others in carrying out the task, help headquarters staff become more aware of how the assessment is being done and provide a basis for the Advisory Group comments on the adequacy of the assessment approach prior to its completion. This should assist in minimizing misunderstanding between the several parties involved and increase the likelihood of a satisfactory final assessment. The plan for a post-cleanup dose and risk assessment should provide a clear indication of all expected inputs to preparation of dose and risk estimates, where the inputs will come from and the dates they will be available. All expected outputs should be clearly documented. At a minimum this should include, for the various living pattern scenarios, estimates of body and ote at able woe e an i tees 4 woe oe a : oe oe . Slaw nt * ete tee : ” Coe Tones ' . . . : . . a 7D 4ys. eeay ' a