401698
United States Department of the interior
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20240
Dear Mr.
DEC? i976
Maldonado:
This is to formalize discussions Miss Johnson of my staff has had
with you and Dr. Weinstein concerning the request for two physicians
from the U.S. Public Health Service to assist ERDA's medical team
in providing medical examinations to the people of the Rongelap and
Utirik Atolls in the Marshall Islands.
As you know, general medical care of Micronesians is the responsi-
bility of the administration of the Trust Territory of the Pacific
Islands,
However, for the past 20 years, ALC/ERDA had conducted a
program of medical surveillance and treatment of the people of
Rongelap and Utirik who were exposed to fall-out.
It has been
suggested that U.S, Public Health Service physicians might be
assigned for a period of approximately six weeks to assist the ERDA
medical team in this humanitarian effort.
If such an assignment is
agreeable to all concerned, Dr, Robert A. Conard, M.D., Medical
Department, Brookhaven National Laboratory, will contact Dr. Sheridan
Weinstein concerning the kind of medical specialists desired in the
forthcoming medical survey planned for March and April 1977.
We appreciate your willingness to cooperate in this mission.
Sincerely yours,
(sgd.})
Fred M. Zeder IT
Fred M.
Zeder II
Director of Territorial Affairs
Mr. Joseph P. Maldonado
Regional Director
Department of [lealth, Education,
and Welfare
50 Fulton Street
San Francisco, California 94102
cc: (Walter Weyzen, M.D.