CIS Microfiche Library 1970-2002 (CIS Asia Pacific Collection)

 CIS NO: 94-H581-29
 TITLE: Radiation Exposure from Pacific Nuclear Tests.
 SOURCE: Committee on Natural Resources. House
 DOC TYPE: Hearing                   COLLATION: iv+493 p. il.
 DATE: Feb. 24, 1994
 CONGRESS-SESSION: 103-2             SUDOC: Y4.R31/3:103-68
 ITEM NO: 1023-A; 1023-B
 MC ENTRY NO: 94-22908

 Committee Serial No. 103-68. Hearing before the Subcom on Oversight and
 Investigations to review issues surrounding U.S. compensation of Republic of
 the Marshall Islands (RMI) inhabitants for medical problems and other
 damages attributed to radioactive fallout from 1946-58 nuclear bomb tests in
 the Pacific Ocean area.
   Examines implications of recent discovery that the U.S. withheld
 information on RMI radiation hazards during negotiation of 1983 U.S.-RMI
 Compact of Free Association, in light of U.S. pledge to fully disclose all
 data on RMI radiological conditions.
   Also reviews Compact of Free Association Section 177 provisions to settle
 radiation damage claims of RMI inhabitants with a 1986 lump-sum payment into
 the Nuclear Claims Fund, and examines Compact Article IX provisions for
 additional reparations to Pacific islanders in the event of the discovery of
 damages not compensated under section 177.
   Supplementary material (p. 429-493) includes witnesses' written replies
 to Subcom questions.
 CONTENT NOTATION: Marshall Islands compensation for nuclear weapons test
     damages, implications of US info nondisclosure
 DESCRIPTORS (and special content notations): SUBCOM ON OVERSIGHT AND
     INVESTIGATIONS, NATURAL RESOURCES. HOUSE; MARSHALL ISLANDS (Nuclear
     weapons test damages compensation, implications of US info
     nondisclosure); FEDERAL-TERRITORIAL RELATIONS; DISEASES AND DISORDERS;
     LIABILITY; NUCLEAR WEAPONS TESTING; HISTORY; LAND USE;
     GOVERNMENT.INFORMATION.AND.INFORMATION.SERVICES; NEGOTIATIONS;
     ETHICS; TREATIES AND CONVENTIONS; TRUST FUNDS; BIKINI ATOLL;
     MEDICAL.RESEARCH; EPIDEMIOLOGY; ENVIRONMENTAL.RESEARCH; RADIOACTIVE
     FALLOUT; PACIFIC OCEAN AREA; RADIATION; COMPACT OF FREE ASSOCIATION;
     CLAIMS; NUCLEAR CLAIMS FUND

 94-H581-29 TESTIMONY NO: 1         Feb. 24, 1994 p. 4-69
 WITNESSES (and witness notations):
     WEISGALL, JONATHAN M. (attorney, representing Bikini Atoll)
 STATEMENT AND DISCUSSION: History of nuclear weapons tests at Bikini
     Atoll; aspects of information withheld by Federal Government concerning
     Bikini nuclear tests; assertions regarding lack of safety precautions at
     Bikini test sites, including failure to limit exposure of Pacific
     islanders and Navy personnel to dangerous radiation levels.
 CONTENT NOTATION: Marshall Islands compensation for nuclear weapons test
     damages, implications of US info nondisclosure
 DESCRIPTORS: MILITARY.PERSONNEL; NAVY

 94-H581-29 TESTIMONY NO: 2         Feb. 24, 1994 p. 69-137, 437-493
 WITNESSES (and witness notations):
     EISENBUD, MERRIL S. (former Director, Health and Safety Laboratory
        (HASL), Atomic Energy Commission (AEC))
 STATEMENT AND DISCUSSION: Summary of HASL radioactive fallout studies in
     conjunction with nuclear bomb tests; aspects of Government failure to
     take adequate safey precautions during 1954 Bikini nuclear test.
 INSERTIONS: 
     a. Eisenbud, M., "Environmental Odyssey: People, Pollution, and
        Politics in the Life of a Practical Scientist" excerpt on AEC
        radioactive fallout studies in the Pacific, 1990 (p. 73-112).
     b. Breslin, Alfred J. and Cassidy, Melvin N. (HASL), "Radioactive
        Debris from Operation Castle, Islands of the Mid-Pacific" Jan. 18,
        1955, with maps, graphs, and tables (p. 444-493).
 CONTENT NOTATION: Marshall Islands compensation for nuclear weapons test
     damages, implications of US info nondisclosure
 DESCRIPTORS (and special content notations): BIKINI ATOLL; SCIENTISTS
     ("Environmental Odyssey: People, Pollution, and Politics in the Life of
     a Practical Scientist" on radioactive fallout studies); STATISTICAL
     DATA: ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION AND CONTROL ("Radioactive Debris from
     Operation Castle, Islands of the Mid-Pacific")

 94-H581-29 TESTIMONY NO: 3         Feb. 24, 1994 p. 137-263
 WITNESSES (and witness notations):
     WEIMAN, DAVID M. (former attorney, Rongelap Atoll)
     HILLS, HOWARD L. (attorney, Rongelap Atoll)
     HAMILTON, THOMAS E. (Dr.) (former consultant, Marshall Islands Atomic
        Testing Litigation Project)
     SIMON, STEVEN L. (Director, Nationwide Radiological Study, RMI)
     RADFORD, EDWARD P. (Dr.) (former Radiological Safety Officer,
        Operation Sandstone, Joint Task Force Seven)
 STATEMENTS AND DISCUSSION: Implications of U.S. failure to disclose
     radiation hazards information on 1954 Bikini nuclear test; issues
     surrounding Compact of Free Association Section 177; findings of studies
     on thyroid disease and cancer in the RMI population (related materials,
     p. 184-190).
       Description of RMI ongoing studies to assess radiation levels and
     thyroid disease incidence; description of 1948 bomb test events; aspects
     of negotiations for damages compensation in the context of U.S.
     withholding of information.
 INSERTIONS: 
     a. Hamilton, T. E. (et al., Univ of Wash), "Thyroid Neoplasia in
        Marshall Islanders Exposed to Nuclear Fallout" Journal of the
        American Medical Association, Aug. 7, 1987 (p. 191-198).
     b. Hamilton, T. E. (Univ of Wash), "Health Effects of Radioactive
        Fallout on Marshall Islanders: Health Policy Issues of Nuclear
        Weapons Production" Physicians for Social Responsibility Quarterly,
        Mar. 1991 (p. 199-207).
 CONTENT NOTATION: Marshall Islands compensation for nuclear weapons test
     damages, implications of US info nondisclosure
 DESCRIPTORS: CANCER; METABOLIC AND ENDOCRINE DISEASES

 94-H581-29 TESTIMONY NO: 4         Feb. 24, 1994 p. 264-398
 WITNESSES (and witness notations):
     KENDALL, WILFRED I. (Ambassador to the U.S., RMI)
     GRAHAM, WILLIAM C. (Public Advocate, Nuclear Claims Tribunal, RMI)
     RIKLON, JOHNSAY (Rongelap Atoll Senator, RMI Parliament)
     BALOS, HENCHI (Bikini Atoll Senator, RMI Parliament)
     YAMAMURA, HIROSHI V. (Utirik Atoll Senator, RMI Parliament)
     JOHN, ISMAEL (Enewetak Atoll Senator, RMI Parliament)
     PETER, NEPTALI (Mayor, Local Government Council, Enewetak/Ujelang
        Atolls)
 STATEMENTS AND DISCUSSION: Inadequacy of section 177 compensation in view
     of U.S. alleged withholding of information, citing RMI intent to seek
     additional reparations (related materials, p. 266-274); status of RMI
     implementation of section 177 (rpt, with tables, graphs, p. 275-337);
     concerns of Pacific islanders about radioactive fallout residual
     effects, focusing on health issues.
 CONTENT NOTATION: Marshall Islands compensation for nuclear weapons test
     damages, implications of US info nondisclosure
 DESCRIPTORS: STATISTICAL DATA: FOREIGN COUNTRIES-GENERAL; RONGELAP ATOLL;
     UTIRIK ATOLL; ENEWETAK ATOLL; UJELANG ATOLL

 94-H581-29 TESTIMONY NO: 5         Feb. 24, 1994 p. 399-427
 WITNESSES (and witness notations):
     PETTENGILL, HARRY J. (Deputy Assistant Secretary, Health, DOE)
 STATEMENT AND DISCUSSION: Review of DOE health and environmental
     assessment programs for the RMI, including status of thyroid disease
     studies; aspects of DOE programs responding to RMI radiation concerns.
 CONTENT NOTATION: Marshall Islands compensation for nuclear weapons test
     damages, implications of US info nondisclosure
 DESCRIPTORS: DEPARTMENT.OF.ENERGY; METABOLIC AND ENDOCRINE DISEASES