348 OCEANOGRAPHY IN THE UNITED STATES 



Those numbers are based on the best available medical and biological 

 knowledge. Dr. Dunham I am sure could relate in detail the pro- 

 grams specifically related to these specific numbers. 



I do not believe the Committee on Oceanography's report, in advo- 

 cating the 5-year progi'am, relates specifically to work concerned with 

 these basic standards, these basic allowable concentrations in air and 

 water. 



Mr. Casey. I am sure they are not related to thai but they are re- 

 lated to the study of concentration in a given area in the sea, what 

 the fish can absorb and what would be safe in this area. 



Dr. LiEBERMAN. Yes, sir. 



Mr. Casey, You do not know that yet, do you ? 



Dr. L1EBER31AN. I am not a marine biologist, and Dr. Seymour can 

 clieck me on this. The conclusions that tlie National Academy of 

 Sciences group came to are based on the data that they presently have. 



In any scientific and technical endeavor there is always additional 

 information that could be and should be obtained. 



It is my observation that some of their assumptions they made in 

 this area are perhaps on the conservative side. 



In any case, any operation such as suggested in this report would 

 have to be followed closely and continuously again to make sure we 

 are not adversely affecting these resources. 



Mr. Casey. If after they do find out more, and we know they will 

 find out more, if after their studies they find out that one of these 

 areas 19 or 20 miles out has been overloaded, I would much rather 

 have them overload a spot 180 miles out than 20 miles. 



Dr. LiEBERMAN. I agree with that. 



The point I would make here is this : I feel that in the absence of 

 complete and detailed infoi-mation our approach has to be conserva- 

 tive. I feel sure the approach of tliis group has been conservative. 



Insofar as small quantities of radioactivity involved, and with 

 what is presently known about the concentration of radioactivity by 

 marine organisms and the effect on marine organisms, and with the 

 conservative assumptions and conservative bases on which this group 

 arrived at their conclusions, it seems to me, at least, that this is a 

 rational approach to this problem. 



I would agree with you thoroughly that every detailed step should 

 be taken to make sure that this is indeed safe. 



About the only other thing I can say in answer to your question 

 is that we propose to proceed with great care and deliberation in this 

 sort of operation. We would lean heavily on the advice and counsel 

 of groups like the Committee on Oceanography, the experts in the 

 Fish and Wildlife Service, and others, to make sure that what we are 

 doing or what we might propose is indeed safe. 



Mr. Casey. Here publication after publication admonished using a 

 site such as they propose right off the coast of Galveston. 



Yet in the report in wliich tliey recommend this site they have 

 nothing to counteract their other divisions of this same group in some 

 of their other publications to counteract these very things that they 

 are now going against. 



Dr. LiEBERMAN. I feel this is the basis for mucli concern, and it 

 I'olatos l)ack to the kinds and qnantities of waste we are talking about. 



Afr. Casey. I understand tliat. You are dealing with the public. 



