26 



In order to map out the situation, Norwegian and Russian sci- 

 entists have undertaken joint expeditions to the Soviet dumping 

 areas in the Kara Sea and along the coast in 1992, 1993, and 1994. 

 In these areas, several reactors with and without spent fuel, ves- 

 sels, barges, and numerous containers with radioactive waste, as 

 well as a large quantity of low-level liquid nuclear waste, have 

 been dumped before 1991. 



The main conclusion from these expeditions is that although 

 leakages do occur, the radionuclides can be traced only in sedi- 

 ments in the very close vicinity of the dumped objects. However, we 

 have no guarantee that this positive situation will continue. A reg- 

 ular monitoring program is definitely needed, but it seems clear 

 that in the short run, other problems should be given higher prior- 

 ity as far as concrete efforts to prevent contamination is concerned. 



If you can take some comfort from the investigations of the 

 dumping sites, the opposite is true when it comes to the question 

 of management, storage, and disposal of spent nuclear fuel and ra- 

 dioactive waste. We know that existing storage facilities are full 

 and that many are in extremely bad condition. Here lies the poten- 

 tial for accidents, future dumping, and leakages to the marine envi- 

 ronment if corrective action is not taken. 



The question for the international community is, can we afford 

 to leave the situation as it is and wait until the Russians have the 

 economic strength to deal with the problems themselves? 



Some countries have already demonstrated their willingness to 

 start addressing these issues. Norway and the United States are 

 now developing plans to assist Russia to upgrade and expand the 

 plant for treatment of low-level liquid radioactive waste in Mur- 

 mansk. A review meeting of the plans between Russian, American, 

 and Norwegian scientists will take place in Oslo in a week's time. 

 Hopefully, the construction phase can start early in 1996. 



Another example of concrete action is the advisory committee 

 which has been formed to consider the plans to deal with the stor- 

 age of ship Lepse. The United States, France, Norway, and the Eu- 

 ropean Commission and Russia are taking part in this cooperation. 

 Here again, we expect concrete proposals to be put on the table in 

 1996. 



These projects are very important in themselves, and really, I 

 would say, invaluable in gaining experience to deal with central 

 and local Russian authorities, but the main problem is not the ci- 

 vilian nuclear facilities but the military ones. Our cooperation with 

 the Russian Navy and the northern fleet is much less developed 

 than cooperation with the civilian authorities. The problem is 

 manifold. The Russian Navy has exhausted their storage capac- 

 ities. There is pollution coming from inland facilities which may 

 spread through the river systems, as talked about by Dr. Yablokov. 



In addition, at least 17 nuclear submarines which have already 

 been decommissioned are lying around the shores of the Kola Pe- 

 ninsula. Spent fuel has been removed from less than one-third of 

 them. The number of submarines taken out of service is growing 

 steadily. 



Of course, I think it is very important to state that the Russian 

 Navy must set aside resources to address these problems. Our im- 

 pression is that they are showing an increasing willingness to do 



