\
United States Department of the Interior
Ceatelh |
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY
a
4o1s24
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20240
Lye |
Honorable Adrian P.
High CommisSioner
MAR
Winkel
2 1978
Trust Territory of the
Pacific
Saipan,
Dear Mr.
Islands
Mariana Islands 96950
Winkel:
This is a follow-up to my dispatch message, DOTA NO. 075-TT
of February 27, 1978, on SB 7-109 providing for a Trust
Territory Fallout Survivors Act to provide adequate medical
care and other benefits to the people of Rongelap and Utirik
toils.
We have been aware for a considerable period of time that
P.L. 5-52 of 1973 has not been a workable act.
It was
approved in 1973 by the Acting High Commissioner without the
Atomic Energy Commission (now incorporated into the Department
of Energy) having had a chance to express an official opinion
on it.
The Act of 1973 required the High Commissioner to seek
t
an executive agreement with the Atomic Energy Commission whereby
the Atomic Energy Commission would be responsible for expenses
incurred under the provisions of the Act.
The Act also set out
very specific demands.
.
Our files here do not seem to be complete on the
sequence of
events which led to the somewhat premature approval of the 1973
-
Act other than the Acting High Commissioner felt it politically
expedient to approve it.
However, it has not been possible to
Carry out the provisions of the Act.
Negotiations were undertaken with the Atomic Energy Commission
after approval of
the
1973
Act.
That agency was not prepared
to accept certain conditions laid down by the Congress of
Micronesia, i.e., the inclusion of all descendants of exposed
persons
and all control persons,
as well as all of the costs
specified by the Congress of Micronesia.
While an Agreement
between the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission and the Trust
. VGA,
ae
fs
"&
aS
Territory of the Pacific Islands eventually was worked out,
provided for only partial reimbursement and included only
exposed persons and certain designated control persons.
eB3
rp.
i
ve
it
|
cc: |Dr.Robert Conard
|
|
Brookhaven National Laboratory, N.Y.
ce
VEE
|
Lv
“J
“Rage wears