in all aspects of sedimentation and in various kinds of equipnnent 

 that may be useful in studying sedimentation rates. 



A third concern is with water movements and all of the various 

 devices that might be of value in studying oceanic circulation, 

 either vertical or horizontal and either long-term or short-term. 



From a differing standpoint, we are interested in instrumenta- 

 tion as it may use nuclear power in the ocean. We are interested 

 in the applications of various Systems for Nuclear Auxiliary 

 Power -- that is, the so-called SNAP devices. Nuclear batteries 

 permit the development of instruments that will do jobs that were 

 impossible before. We feel that these instruments have a great 

 deal to offer to the oceanographer , particularly where needs for 

 electricity independent from a shore-based source may be such 

 as to make these devices practical. As you know, the SNAP 

 devices may be made into battery form, and they may function at 

 a relatively low power, up to about 5 watts; or they may be small 

 reactors, which can produce a kilowatt of electricity or even 

 many megawatts of electricity. We feel confident that these de- 

 vices will continue to operate in the ocean; however, we are 

 concerned with various potential hazards of the operations. 



Thus, part of our instrumentation requirement lies in the 

 development of equipment which could make it possible to judge 

 nnore accurately the hazards of the devices that may be developed. 



SNAP, or at least similar devices, are presently conceived 

 for use in oceanographic buoys and for use in various kinds of 

 instrument stations including oceanic instrument stations where 

 a continuous or intermittent readout is needed to give the 

 information. 



As far as our marine operating interest is concerned, the 

 Commission places priority on those oceanic areas adjacent to 

 shore-based nuclear reactors. We are concerned with any 

 possible equipment that might tell us more about the distribution 

 of radioactivity from such sources as the Hanford reactors where 

 radioactive materials may be released into the ocean. We are 

 concerned with the safety and possible hazards of ship operation. 

 If there should be a nuclear war, we realize there is a good 

 chance of a nuclear submarine having an accident, and certainly 

 a very small chance but perhaps a minimum chance that an 

 accident will occur during normal operation of these or other 



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