Republic of the Marshall Islands Changed Circumstances Petition to Congress
Abstract
In September 2000, the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) government submitted to the United States Congress a Changed Circumstances Petition related to U.S. nuclear testing on the Marshall Islands atolls of Bikini and Enewetak during the 1940s and 1950s. The Petition requests additional compensation for personal injuries and property damages and restoration costs, medical care programs, health services infrastructure and training, and radiological monitoring. According to U.S. government estimates, between 1958 and 2004, the United States spent $531 million on nuclear test compensation and assistance in the Marshall Islands. This report summarizes U.S. nuclear testing on the Marshall Islands, U.S. compensation efforts to date, relevant provisions in the Compact of Free Association, and the Changed Circumstances Petition. It analyzes several issues related to the personal injury, health care, and property damages claims in the Petition. These issues include estimated occurrence of radiation-related illnesses in the Marshall Islands; the methodology for determining the value of lost use of damaged properties; the appropriate standard of risk (annual dose limit) for determining cleanup levels; and the extent of radioactive fallout. This report, which will be updated, discusses possible legal options for the RMI in pursuing nuclear test damages claims and identifies policy options for the 109th Congress.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 16, 2005
- Accession Number
- ADA457444
Entities
People
- C. S. Redhead
- David Bearden
- Kenneth Thomas
- Mark Holt
- Salvatore Lazzari
- Thomas Lum
Organizations
- Library of Congress