TODAY ARE INTENDED TO PROVIDE A FIRM, OBJECTIVE AND SCIENTIFIC BASIS FOR SETTING GOVERNMENT POLICY AND

REGULATORY STANDARDS ON LOW-LEVEL RADIATION.

# # #

Thank you for your letter informing me of your intention to make publicly available relevant information on the effects of Nevada nuclear testing on residents of Utah.

I strongly support that approach and have taken the same position with respect to any such data contained in HEW files. On January 5, 1979, I directed the Assistant Secretary for Health to locate and make available promptly any research studies of residents of Utah or neighboring States exposed to radiation from atomic bomb testiny.

We are indexing the data, and, as we discussed on the phone, we released the first set of HEW papers on February 28. We will keep you fully informed of any information we locate that concerns Utah.

Sincerely,
(s/ Joe

Joseph A. Califano, Jr.

DEPARTMENT

USA

WELFARE

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE

PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE

NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH

BETHESDA, MARYLAND 20014

MAR 1 2 1979

Dr. Philip Handler

President

National Academy of Sciences 2101 Constitution Avenue

Washington, D.C. 20418

Dear Dr. Handler:

I am writing to solicit officially a proposal from the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) to the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW) that NAS analyze Federal research on biological effects of ionizing radiation and provide a critique of proposed research in this area.

The background of my request is as follows:

1. Public Law 95-622, approved November 9, 1978, states that the Secretary of HEW "shall conduct a comprehensive review of Federal programs of research on the biological effects of ionizing radiation." On January 18, 1979, Secretary Califano designated me as interim project manager to carry out these new responsibilities (see attachment).

2.

3.

Congressman Paul Rogers, in presenting the bill to the House
of Representatives (Congressional Record, October 14, 1978,
attached), said that the House Committee intended that certain
specified tasks be conducted by, or in consultation with,
the NAS.

I have informally discussed these tasks with you and, at a
meeting at NIH on February 5, with members of your staff.

We envision the NAS proposal as encompassing two major tasks--a study and a critique. The study should be of the goals, management, conduct, and quality of Federal research on the biological effects of ionizing radiation. (This should also include research on technologies required for standard setting, such as dosimetry, etc.) We understand that NAS is already engaged in a review of the research in this area supported by the Department of Energy (DOE). This constitutes almost two-thirds of the Federally supported research on the biological effects of ionizing radiation. Thus, the study we are requesting would represent an expansion of the review of DOE efforts to include the research supported by HEW, DOD, NRC, EPA, and VA.

We would expect that (1) analysis of the conduct and quality of the scientific investigations would be performed through independent scientific peer review, and that (2) analysis of management would emphasize the mechanisms employed to select hypotheses and to judge experimental opportunity and to create and maintain an adequate national capability for the acquisition of knowledge in this field. We envision completion of this study by the early spring of 1980, if possible.

We plan to establish a Committee on Federal Research Into the Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation. We expect the Committee to propose a research strategy. We also ask you to consider as part of your proposal an additional scope of work--namely, a critique of this proposed strategy. The Committee should make its proposal by January 1980, and we would hope that the Academy might complete its critique by June of that year.

Please submit in advance a general outline of your proposal, a timetable, and a budget. This preliminary material will be reviewed by NIH staff and the Committee on Federal Research Into the Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation.

I deeply appreciate your time and that of your staff in discussing the very important Federal initiatives in this key policy area. I will look to you for continued counsel and advice.

Sincerely yours,

Dainald F. The histon

Donald S. Fredrickson, M.D.
Director

Attachments (2)

[Editorial note. The attachments were:
1. Memorandum from Joseph Califano, Jr.--
see p.44;

2. Congressional Record, omitted.]

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE
OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR HEALTH

Data Gathering and Disclosure of Data on Health Effects of Atmospheric SUBJECT: Weapons Tests

Enclosed are the Secretary's memorandum of January 5 and the General
Counsel's memorandum of January 26 to Dr. Richmond on the above
subject. It is imperative that you conduct a thorough search of your
organization's official and informal files covering: (1) any research
studies conducted by this Department of residents of Utah or neighboring
states exposed to radiation from the atmospheric weapons testing program
conducted in Nevada from 1945 to 1962; and (2) all written records,
formal and informal, concerning activities conducted to monitor the
fallout from these tests and their effects on humans and animals.
Specifically, you should double check all locations where pertinent
information may be stored as you search for all research and investiga-
tions related to the effect of the weapons program on humans and animals,
documentation of meetings within the Department and with other State and
federal agencies as well as the White House, and any other correspondence,
memoranda, press releases, Congressional testimony, or other documents
that relate to the weapons testing program. As these documents are
obtained they should be forwarded to the Department's Freedom of
Information Officer, Russ Roberts, in accordance with the procedures
described below.

The

To assure a comprehensive, timely and coordinated response to this project,
the PHS will follow a special procedure in handling specific requests and
in forwarding of all other pertinent information from the files.
procedures will be effective for all PHS components including FDA. All
written requests for information pertaining to this project are subject
to these procedures and should be forwarded immediately to Russ Roberts.
Simultaneously, the staff should begin work to gather the requested
information. When applicable documents are found, a copy should be
forwarded to Russ Roberts, who will coordinate the storage and dissemin-
ation of this information to all appropriate groups and/or individuals.