243 



Mr. Price. I said that disposal containers are supposed to have 

 identification marks on tliem, and I would like to check the record. 



Mr. Keith. I did not realize you said they were supposed to have 

 been marked. 



I thought you said they were identifiable. 



Mr. Price. Here again, if somebody does not comply with the re- 

 quirements, and we do not know about it, I am just recognizing that 

 that could happen. 



Mr. Keith. It seems to me, as you said, you did know about it. 



I do not want to pursue it, but it does not look very good on the 

 record. 



Mr. Price. Sir, I am trying to clear the record. I think you are talk- 

 ing about the cans that washed up on the shore. 



I do not think we were ever able to trace them to any particular 

 person, but I would have to check the record. 



That was a long time ago. 



Mr. Keith. My question was certainly leading up to whether or not 

 they were identifiable, and, therefore, corrective action could be taken. 



I would have thought all of you as witnesses would have anticipated 

 what I had in mind. 



Mr. Ramey. I might say, Mr. Chairman, we were requested to 

 testify yesterday, to come in this morning. 



Mr. Keith. Excuse me. 



Mr. Price. I would like to submit something on that to clear the 

 record. 



Mr. Keith. Fine. 



(The information follows :) 



Radioactive Waste Labeling Requirements 



Each container of radioactive vraste dumped at sea was required to be labeled 

 witih the following information : 



1. Total activity in millicuries, or in the case of source and special nuclear 

 material, the total weight of the radioactive material ; 



2. Principal radioisotopes ; 



3. Radiation level at the surface of the container and at one meter; and 



4. The name and address of the licensee. 



In 1970, two disposals at sea were made. One disposal, by Chevron Research 

 Company, Richmond, California, consisted of two drums containing about 25 

 tnillicuries of cobalt 60 in sealed sources, 6 millicuries of cobalt 60 metal, 35 

 millicuries of strontium 90 in sealed sources, 22 millicuries of cesium 137 fixed on 

 catalyst beads, and 3 curies of tritium (hydrogen 3). The other disposal, by the 

 University of Hawaii, consisted of 20 packages containing about 5 millicuries 

 of carbon 14, 10 millicuries of calcium 45, and 10 millicuries of tritium (hydro- 

 gen 3). 



Mr. Keith. Now, the Atomic Energy Commission in accordance 

 with this bill will be excluded from complying with the terms of the 

 act, as though they had sufficient capability to police their own actions. 



Mr, Ramey. It is not just our own actions, Mr. Keith. The Commis- 

 sion is a regulatory authority. The Commission is regulating nuclear 

 powerplants, utilities, and others, and under its authority, as we in- 

 dicated, we have cutback on ocean disposal, and are in the process of 

 phasing it out. 



Mr. Keith. I think what we are concerned about is what the people 

 are concerned about. 



