STUDY OF THYROID MORBIDITY FOR HANFORD, WASHINGTON.

SEC. 161. STUDY OF THYROID MORBIDITY FOR HANFORD, WASHINGTON. (a) In General.—In carrying out the purposes of section 301 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 241), the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control (hereafter referred to in this section as the “Director”), shall conduct a study of thyroid morbidity of the population (including Indian tribes and tribal organizations) in the vicinity of Hanford, in the State of Washington, during the years 1944 through 1957. (b) Peer Review.—As soon as is practicable after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director shall establish a peer review committee that shall, along with the Centers for Disease Control, make any determinations as to the conduct of the study required under this section. (c) Contracts.— (1) In general.—Except as provided in paragraph (2), the Director may contract out any portion of the study required under this section if the Director considers such appropriate, except that such contractor shall not have any direct or indirect 102 STAT. 3060interest in the outcome of such study including, contracts with the Department of Energy. (2) Relationships.—Contractors that currently are parties to contracts with the Department of Energy (or who have previously been parties to such) shall be given consideration pursuant to paragraph (1), except that the Director shall make a determination in each such circumstance that the relationship of the contractor with the Department of Energy does not represent a conflict of interest or the appearance of such a conflict regarding the conduct of the study required under this section. (d) Report.—Not later than 42 months after the date of enactment of this section, the Director shall transmit a report including such study to the Congress, the chief executive officers of the States of Oregon and Washington, and the governing officials of the Indian tribes in the vicinity of Hanford, Washington.