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licensing in their licensing operation to eliminate radioactive pollution, 

 that is to say, the escape of radioactive isotopes from their operations. 



Mr. Fascell. What kind of coordination is there with your Depart- 

 ment, if any? 



Dr. Cain. The Federal Water Pollution Control Administration 

 has considerable powers with respect to any kind and any source of 

 pollution, 



Mr. Fascell. I know, but do you have any kind of coordinating or 

 advisory function with the Atomic Energy Commission with respect 

 to international waters? 



Dr. Cain. We are involved in monitoring the environment for radio- 

 activity in the environment. 



Mr. Fascell. You mean some of the scientific research projects, 

 both unilateral and multilateral, are concerned with the monitoring 

 of the deep oceans with respect to the release of radioactive isotopes? 

 Or do I understand that there is a regular program of monitoring 



Dr. Cain. Interior is not involved in monitoring the deep oceans 

 for radioactivity. 



Mr. Fascell. Do you know of any bureau, department, committee, 

 or group, that is interested in monitoring the deep ocean with respect 

 to the determination of radioactivity ? 



Dr. Cain. In a global sense, no, I don't. 



Mr. Fascell. Do you think it would be a good idea if there was one? 



Dr. Cain. Yes, I do. However, it comes back pretty directly to the 

 nations that are in the nuclear club 



Mr. Fascell. Who are concerned with pollution. 



Dr. Cain (continuing). And who do search hard for safe means of 

 disposing of long-lived radioactive isotopes. 



We, and presumably other nations, have put some of them in the 

 sea. They have done so in presumably safe containers. The same agency 

 has the responsibility for monitoring these to see whether or not they 

 remain safe. If they don't, I suppose they have to withdraw them and 

 do something else. It is a difficult and tricky situation. 



Mr. Fascell. Of course I understand this. I can see how, with re- 

 spect to our own problem of disposal, we could make our own guar- 

 antees and safeguards. The problem, it seems to me, is with respect to 

 the other nuclear members of the club and what is done on safeguards 

 or understandings that we may have internationally. 



It would seem to me, with respect to the problems of the resources of 

 the high seas, that we wouldn't have much to argue about if nuclear 

 pollution is so bad that nothing can be extracted. 



We will have to pursue that a little bit further. 



Dr. Cain. Many nations were involved in monitoring at the time 

 atmospheric tests were being performed. With the ban on atmospheric 

 testing and other kinds of testing, many nations are still monitoring 

 radioactivity. This is primarily in the air, but not exclusively because 

 the isotopes settle with the rain and they become part of the food 

 change. They enter people as well as animals, mammals, and fish. The 

 intensity of this pollution of the environment by radioactive isotopes 

 has dropped dramatically since the atmospheric testing has been 

 stopped. 



Mr. Fascell. You have already given us, and so has INIr. Terry, some 

 examples of scientific research projects sponsored by the Department 



