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TESTIMONY OF 

 CURTIS BOHLEN, 

 ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE 

 FOR OCEANS AND INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL 



AND SCIENTIFIC AFFAIRS, BEFORE THE 

 SENATE SELECT SUBCOMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE, 



AUGUST 15, 1992 



MR. CHAIRMAN: 



I AM PLEASED TO APPEAR BEFORE THIS SUBCOMMITTEE TO DISCUSS 

 INTERNATIONAL ISSUES RELATING TO RADIOACTIVE AND OTHER 

 ENVIRONMENTAL THREATS TO THE UNITED STATES AND THE ARCTIC 

 RESULTING FROM PAST SOVIET ACTIVITIES. 



AS FAR BACK AS THE 1940 'S, THE SOVIET UNION USED THE 

 BARENTS AND KARA SEAS, IN THE VICINITY OF NOVAYA ZEMLYA, FOR 

 DUMPING NUCLEAR MASTES, ACCORDING TO RECENT ARTICLES IN THE 

 RUSSIAN PRESS, REPORTING BY ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS, AND 

 INFORMATION FROM OTHER SOURCES. ESTIMATES SUGGEST THAT AS MUCH 

 AS SEVERAL BILLION CURIES OF LIQUID AND SOLID RADIOACTIVE 

 MATERIAL MAY HAVE BEEN DUMPED. APPARENTLY WITH NO CONCERN FOR 



