249 



Mr. Eamey. I would just refer you to this report as stated. 



Mr. McCloskey. Mr. Kamey, you are one of the most intelligent 

 lawyers I know. We have had a good deal of experience in the courts 

 together. You know what a yes or no answer would be. 



Does the Commission object to the prohibiting of dumping of radio- 

 active solid wastes in this bill ? 



Mr. Ramey. I would request we be given an opportunity to answer 

 that question. 



Mr. McCloskey. You cannot answer it with a yes or no ? 



Mr. Ramey. I can. 



Mr. McCloskey. What is your answer ? 



Mr. Ramey. I would say that 



Mr. McCloskey. Yes or no. 



Mr. Ramey. I would have to speak from my own standpoint on this, 

 because the Commission's position has been essentially what was the 

 CEQ position in its report. 



Mr. McCloskey. The answer to the question is yes, you do not feel 

 we should prohibit solid radioactive solid waste disposal? 



You feel you should have freedom to dispose of some radioactive 

 solid waste ? 



Mr. Ramey. I think it has to be that the door should possibly be left 

 open in a very minor way. 



Let me give you a kind of example. 



Mr. McCloskey. I want to make sure I understand your testimony. 



You do not want this committee to prohibit solid radioactive waste 

 disposal by the Atomic Energy Commission, do you ? 



Mr. Ramey. "What I would like would be an opportunity for the 

 Commission to take up this specific question that you are raising, and 

 to supply you with our position on it. 



Mr. McCloskey. The answer to my former question is at this time 

 you cannot answer the question yes or no because the Commission has 

 not deliberated on this question. 



Is that your answer to my question ? 



Mr. Ramey. Yes, sir ; that is what I was trying to say. 



Mr. McCloskey. Well, that is fine. That is a perfectly legitimate 

 answer. If you do not want to answer the question at this time, because 

 the Commission has not deliberated on it, that is fine. 



Now, Chainnan Train has testified ocean dumping of radioactive 

 waste should be prohibited, including solid radioactive waste. 



You will take up that question ? . 



Mr. Ramey. Yes. 



Mr. McCi-osKEY. How soon ? 



Mr. Ramey. Within the next week or 10 days. 



Mr. McCloskey. Then we will await that answer. 



(The information follows:) 



U.S. Atomic Energy Commission. 



Washington, D.C.. April 26, 1971. 

 Hon. Paul N. McCloskey, Jr., 

 House of Representatives. 



Dear Mr. McCloskey : I am pleased to submit for the record the position of 

 the Atomic Energy Ck>mmission with resipeet to three questions which you raised 

 during my api>earance before the Subcommittees on Oceanography and Fisheries 

 and Wildlife Oonsers^ation on April 6, 1971. 



Question 1. Does the Commission object to a prohiMtion of the dumping of 

 radioactive solid waste in H.R. Jf723? 

 62-513 O — 71 17 



