356 OCEANOGRAPHY IX THE UNITED STATES 



In the meantime, however, I have talked with other persons and 

 agencies concerned with this problem, including the Bureau of Com- 

 mercial Fisheries and Dr. Ralph Lapp, prominent nuclear scientist. 

 Each report I receive emphasizes that our present knowledge of radio- 

 active disposal apparently is not sufficient to determine whether or 

 not the proposed disposal is, in fact, safe. 



I have been impressed with the consistency of the witnesses from 

 the AEC and other agencies who have testified thus far in these 

 hearings when each of them says we need to have more study before 

 we can know. 



Mr. Chairman, if the proponents of this radioactive waste disposal 

 program close to our public beaches are uncertain about its danger, 

 how can the people who live near and use these beaches and fish in 

 these waters be expected to accept this program? If the scientists 

 declare that we need more study, it is my sincere hope that before 

 any pennits are issued to authorize dumping of radioactive waste 

 in coastal waters proper and comprehensive study will be made and 

 complete factual reports will be made available to the Congress and 

 to the general public. 



Thank you, Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, for this 

 opportunity to present this statement for your consideration. 



Mr. MnxER. Thank you. 



The committee will stand in recess until 10 o'clock tomorrow morn- 

 ing, when we will meet in the hearing room of the Committee on 

 Science and Astronautics. 



(Whereupon, at 1 p.m., the subcommittee recessed, to reconvene 

 at 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 14, 1959. ) 



