183 



monitoring for raidionuclid«s ha«T occurred since 1983. This 

 program could b* extended to include Alaskan sampling stations - 



With respect to air contamination, EPA has an Environmental 

 Radiation Ambient Monitoring system (ERAMS) , which was used to 

 trade the movement of Chernobyl aerial pairticulate radioactivity 

 and can also be used to detect any significant atmospheric 

 particulate radioactivity arising from Arctic contamination. We 

 currently have ERAMS stations operating in Juneau and Anchorage, 

 and. are in the process of establishing a station- at Fairbanlcs . 

 Conclusion 



EPA is concerned about these releases in the Russian Arctic 

 ocean as it has been about releases that may have occurred in 

 U.S. coastal waters in the past and from the Chernobyl accident. 

 Although it is clear that this environmental situation is the 

 responsibility of the Russians to rectify, EPA intends to suppori: 

 future co^erative studies to better understand this issue. 



This completes xy prepared testimony, and I will be happy to 

 respond to any questions from members of the Committee. 



***** 



