176 



past on narino raidioactivity pollution i»»u«a, and what tha 

 Agency thinks is necessary to b« done in the futtire- 

 current EPA knovledae of Arctic co ntaminate q n 



While EPA considers the issue of radioactive contamination 

 of the Arctic to be of considerable iaiportance, EPA does not 

 currently have extensive information aibout the extent and type of 

 radioactive contamination found in the Arctic. In addition, EPA 

 does not have extensive information about other types of 

 contamination that may be damaging to the Arctic Because of the 

 lack of comprehensive data, it is difficult to say with much 

 precision the extent of the risk to human health and the 

 environment c aused by such contamination, x would like to take 

 this opportonity to describe to you the relevant types of 

 information that EPA does have at *-y*i« point. 



EPA has been involved in monitoring studies at former ocean 

 disposal sites in the Atlantic and Pacific. Monitoring surveys 

 were conducted from surface vessels, as well as w«TiTin«< and 

 unmanned submersibles. We also evaluated monitoring data from a 

 former international duqp site administered by the imclear Energy 

 Agency/Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. 

 This facility accepted nuclear and other wastes from several 

 European countries. 



EPA has undertaken several initiatives, often in cooperation 

 with NOAA, In studying past radioactive waste disposal 

 activities. One important task was to locate and identify waste 

 containment packages on the sea floor. In addition, EPA 



