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Based on concerns expressed by native hunters, at least two member 

 organizations of AMRC have sponsored studies to test for heavy 

 metals ii\ marine mammals. The Alaska Eskimo Whaling 

 Commission through the North Slope Borough studied levels of 

 heavy metals in bowhead whale organs a few years ago. Their study 

 showed a slight increase of cadmium levels in the kidney of bowhead 

 whales over a period of three or four years. The Alaska and 

 Inuvialuit Beluga Whale Committee has began a study to test for 

 heavy metals on the Chukchi sea stock of beluga whales this year, the 

 results of which should be available by next year. 



We need to be kept informed about the ongoing investigations 

 concerning nuclear and toxic waste dumping from industries in the 

 Russian arctic regions. 



We want to see the 'health of the Alaskan marine mammal resources 

 maintained for our future generations. Our native cultures are based 

 on traditional hunting and fishing practices and the availability of 

 wildlife resources during their seasonal migrations near our villages. 

 We have heard of extinction of wildlife resources because of mistakes 

 mankind has made in other parts of the world. We want to avoid this 

 kind of tragedy in the arctic. 



We are urging you and other organizations to take action now to deal 

 with the environmental disasters that have recently been made public 

 by Russian and international news organizations. We are concerned 

 not only for ourselves but for our relatives and neighbors who live in 

 northern Russia and Canada. We share some of the same marine 

 mainmal resources upon which the Alaskan natives depend on for 

 Qur nutritional and cultural needs. 



Thank you for this opportunty to address the U.S. Senate Select 

 Committee on Intelligence about the concerns of AMRC regarding 

 nuclear and toxic waste being reported from the former Soviet Union. 



Marie Adams, AMRC Vice Chair 



c/o North Slope Borough 



P. O. Box 69 



Barrow, Alaska 99723 



