232 



full licensing and enforcement authority of the AEC over ocean dis- 

 posal of radioactive material. This provision eliminates the possibility 

 of dual regulation over these materials, yet it provides for full partici- 

 pation by the Environmental Protection Agency in the program. The 

 provision in section 7(b) of the bill requiring consultation and the 

 setting of standards is a useful one in that it will assure an "across-the- 

 board" approach to the problems associated with ocean dumping. Also, 

 it will assure that the relationship between EPA and the AEC will be 

 consistent with the relationship set forth m Reorganization Plan No. 3. 



In continuing to regulate the disposal of radioactive materials at 

 sea under the provisions of section 7(b), the AEC would plan to con- 

 tmue its practice of prohibiting the disposal of high-level radioactive 

 wastes in the ocean. We believe that ocean disposal of other solid 

 radioactive wastes should be prohibited to the extent that practicable 

 alternatives are available which provide less risk to man and his 

 environment. 



I will be glad to answer any questions you may have. 



^ir. DiNGELL. We are very grateful to you for your very helpful 

 testimony. 



]\Ir. Lennon. 



Mr. Lewnon. Thank 3- ou, Mr. Chairman. 



I want to be as specific for the record as I can. Your representation 

 here this morning that you gentlemen are making is on behalf of the 

 Atomic Energy Commission, and you are the representatives of the 

 Atomic Energy Commission, is that correct? 



Mr. E.AMET. Yes, sir. 



Mr. Lennon. Are either one of you three gentlemen members of the 

 Commission ? 



Mr. E.AMEY. Yes, sir ; I am. 



Iiir. Lennon. Well, I am delighted to see this spirit of cooperation 

 and recognition on the part of the Atomic Energy Conmiission, and 

 for the sake of the new members, I am going to just quickly recapitu- 

 late my experience with the Atomic Energy Commission last year. 



When the Congress learned after the fact the decision had been made 

 to dmnp off Cape Kemiedy some 416, as I recall, coffins of nerve gas, 

 which was, and I recall that the Secretary of the Army, and the rec- 

 ognition that the fuses on the rockets, and the propellers were deterior- 

 ating, and, therefore, there was some reason to believe there was hmni- 

 nent danger, so that the Secretary of the Army called on the National 

 Scientific Foundation to recommend an ad hoc committee, of scien- 

 tists to determine how best we could dispose of the caskets, or coffins of 

 the nerve gas. He convened this committee of scientists, and they came 

 up with recommendation No. 1, that they could be disposed of by the 

 Atomic Energy Commission, and the Atomic Energy Commission was 

 asked to look into the matter, which they did. This committee of scien- 

 tists said we do not have experience in ordnances, munitions, or explo- 

 sives, and they suggested to convene an ad hoc committee of these gen- 

 tlemen who have experience, and they came up with the same specific 

 aiid definitive recommendation, that the Atomic Energy Commission 

 be called on to dispose of these 416 plus coffins of nerve gas, and the 

 Atomic Energy Commission in turn went to its, I believe you called 

 the Lawrence Eadiation Laboratory, and they came back,, and said 

 yes, we can dispose of it. 



