105 



another, such as the inclusion of contaminated sediment into sea 

 ice, a process we know happens but do not understand. 



We need an inventory of contaminants throughout the Arctic, 

 particularly in the former Soviet Union, not just radionuclides but 

 all of the contaminants that we have discussed already. 



We need to rescue historical data which can help us understand 

 phenomena such as the statistics of river flooding and the prob- 

 ability that the 100-year flood, the biggest flood that occurs in 

 every century, can mobilize contaminants that lay dormant almost 

 all of the rest of the time under normal river flow conditions. 



We must look out for problems such as thaws of permafrost, 

 which global change appears to be bringing to the Arctic. They can 

 release from frozen soil where fluids are highly immobile into the 

 mobile liquid realm large quantities of pollutants. 



Mr. Chairman, members of the committee, contamination in the 

 Arctic has a dangerous potential to affect the lives of citizens of the 

 United States and of the world. The Federal agencies have been ac- 

 tive in formulating plans for a comprehensive approach, but lack 

 of funding has crippled and fragmented their efforts. I am afraid 

 that the research, monitoring, and assessment necessary to meet 

 the nation's needs has a low priority in the budgetary process, and 

 as a result, the United States has not produced the integrated Arc- 

 tic research effort of which we are capable. 



Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 



[The prepared statement of Dr. Brass follows:] 



