RE: Information on Rongelap Island

[Robert Loesch <loesch@list.eh.doe.gov>]

The Department of Energy is responsible for the environmental monitoring at
Rongelap Atoll and the bioassay and medical followup of the originally exposed
Rongelap inhabitants.  I was involved in this program for several years.  The
responsibility for the program now rests with the Office of International Health
Programs and the program manager is R. Thomas (Tom) Bell.  He can be 
reached at (301) 903-5728, email:  tom.bell@hq.doe.gov.  He should be able
to fill you in on the latest status and details.

Bob Loesch

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            _/ _/                _/ _/              _/_/_/_/            Robert M. Loesch
          _/     _/           _/     _/           _/                      US Department of Energy
        _/         _/     _/           _/       _/                      EH-52, GTN, 270CC
      _/          _/   _/               _/    _/_/_/_/            19901 Germantown Road	
    _/         _/       _/           _/     _/                      Germantown, MD  20874-1290
  _/        _/           _/      _/       _/                      Tel: 301 903-4443;  Fax: -7773
_/ _/ _/                _/ _/          _/_/_/_/            loesch@spok.eh.doe.gov
=======================================================
              "The definition of a public health disaster is a catastrophe so large
                   that an epidemiologic study can detect it."    David Ozonoff


-----Original Message-----
From:	Andrew McEwan [SMTP:Andrew@nrl.moh.govt.nz]
Sent:	Tuesday, January 20, 1998 6:35 PM
To:	Multiple recipients of list
Subject:	Information on Rongelap Island



Timothy Snider wrote:

"Original Subject:
Looking for information on Rongelap Island

I am trying to find out information on Rongelap Island. I was on the
Enewetak Atoll clean up in the late 70's and would like to know what
technology or methodology they will be using on this clean up.

Do you have any knowledge of the prime contractor which will be doing
this work?"
 ----------------------

My knowledge of what was planned dates back two or three years.  The 
proposals then were for scraping of soil from the village area and 
replacement with clean crushed coral (to reduce external radiation from Cs 
to very low levels), and to apply potassium fertiliser across the whole 
island, to reduce Cs uptake into plants.

The costs of rehabilitation included village infrastructure like roads, 
buildings, and water supply.

_________________________
Andrew C McEwan PhD
National Radiation Laboratory
PO Box 25-099
Christchurch, New Zealand

Ph 64 3 366 5059
Fax 64 3 366 1156
acmcewan@nrl.moh.govt.nz
________________________