143 



In addition to power reactors, hundreds of reactors are aboard 

 CIS submarines and naval vessels, the majority of which are based 

 in or near Arctic waters. A September 1985 explosion during re- 

 fueling of a Soviet nuclear submarine near Vladivostok illustrates 

 the potential for serious accidents in these reactors. The explosion 

 scattered radioactive material on shore and into the bay, which re- 

 portedly was only haphazardly and incompletely cleaned up. In ad- 

 dition, comments by former Soviet navy personnel and two well- 

 publicized sinkings of Soviet submarines since 1986 illustrate the 

 danger fire and accidents pose to CIS submarine reactors. The 

 large number and advancing age of these reactors will increase 

 safety risks, particularly as the CIS begins to dismantle many of 

 the vessels. 



Dehberate dumping of radioactive waste materials into Arctic 

 waters or improper land-based storage is another source of radio- 

 logical pollution. The USSR dumped substantial quantities of ra- 

 dioactive waste in Arctic waters, including the three damaged origi- 

 nal nuclear reactors of the icebreaker Lenin, and reportedly reac- 

 tors from several submarines, including some with nuclear fuel 

 aboard. Radioactive wastes, mostly from naval reactors, also are 

 buried on Arctic shores. Only Soviet records, if any, or detailed sci- 

 entific surveys can determine the amount, type and potential haz- 

 ards from the material which has been dumped. I expect \ye will 

 learn more about these and other concerns in light of new scientific 

 cooperation, such as the joint Russian-Norwegian expedition to sur- 

 vey nuclear waste disposal sites in the Kara Sea planned for this 

 month, and information-sharing made possible by the collapse of 

 Communism. 



The newly free republics of the former Soviet Union and Eastern 

 Europe face enormous environmental challenges. The deteriorating 

 industrial infi-astructure presents a high risk of disasters. The 

 chemical and energy sectors, where much of the equipment is old 

 and in need of replacement, appear to face the highest risk, but se- 

 rious breakdowns could occur in radlroads, civil aviation, and nu- 

 clear power plants. In some cases, accidents have already occurred. 

 For example, an oil well in Uzbekistan drilled with inadequate 

 equipment ruptured in March, contaminating farmland and threat- 

 ening to pollute a vital river. Only through intensive roimd-the- 

 clock efforts, aided by U.S. experts who are in turn supported by 

 U.S. intelligence information, were workers able to cap the well 

 and protect the river. 



Environmental destruction caused by Soviet troops in Eastern 

 Europe is adding substantially to the already heavy cleanup bur- 

 dens new governments face as the result of four decades of environ- 

 mental neglect by the region's former communist rulers. The de- 

 struction being revealed by the puUout of Soviet forces clearly will 

 take many years and billions of dollars to repair. Corroded petro- 

 leum, oil and lubricants pipelines and storage tanks, as well as 

 poor fuel-handling practices make contamination of soil and 

 groundwater the most ubiquitous pollution problem at former So- 

 viet facilities. Lax safety standards combined with poor storage and 

 accounting practices at ammunition depots have led to soil and 

 water contamination with a variety of heavy metals, acids and 

 other toxic — and often explosive — materials. Solvents, paints, coat- 



