262 



The ACRS (letter 7/22/66) found the Cayucos site acceptable provided addi- 

 tional geological studies confirmed expectations and proper attention was given 

 to seismic design. 



The Oxnard and Tehachapi sites had specific problems requiring considerable 

 effort and additional safeguards. InsuflBicient geological information was avail- 

 able concerning the Sycamore Canyon site. 



Mr. TiERNAN. Thank you. I have no further questions. 



Mr. DiNGELL. Mr. DuPont. 



Mr. DuPoNT. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 



Mr. Kamey, under the 1954 act, did the Atomic Energy Commis- 

 sion have authority to issue permits for dumping of anything other 

 than radioactive material ? 



Mr. Ramey. Not in the sense that you are talking about, no, sir. 



Mr. DuPoNT. How can the Atomic Energy Commission get in- 

 volved in the question that Mr. Lennon was asking about, the nerve 

 gas? 



Mr. Ramey. Well, as I indicated, I did not believe that the Com- 

 mission made any recommendations as to disposal of something irt 

 the jurisdiction of the Department of Defense. 



Where the Commission got involved was in the question as to whether 

 it might be possible to disintegrate these nerve gases by means of an 

 underground atomic explosion. In any such an arrangement, the Com- 

 mission would be essentially providing a service, if you want to call 

 it that, as a fellow Government agency on the disintegration of this 

 material. 



As I indicated, this had never been done on an experimental basis, 

 and it was something that needed a great amount of experiment and 

 study in our judgment before we made a decision on it. 



Mr. DuPoNT. But you have no authority to dump anything, or to 

 issue permits for the dumping of anything other than radioactive 

 material ? 



Mr. Price. Radioactive material is the only material that we have 

 regulatory authority over to control the dumping by others. 



Mr. DuPoNT. No, that is not quite the question. 



Does the Atomic Energy Commission have the permission, if I came 

 to you with a sack, and said I want a permit to dump this in the ocean, 

 and it does not contain radioactive material, do you have statutory 

 authority to give me a permit ? 



Mr. Price. No, sir. 



Mr. DuPoNT. Do you have exclusive authority over the dumping 

 permits of radioactive material ? 



That is, could a State enact a radioactive dumping law that could in 

 any way impinge on your jurisdiction ? 



Mr. Price. No ; we have exclusive authority under section 274 of the 

 Atomic Energy Aot. 



The Act permits some limited delegation of the States to regulate 

 radioactive material, but it expressly excludes ocean disposal. 



Mr. DuPoNT. And, finally, would you object to an amendment to 

 eliminate section 7(b) of the administration's bill ? 



Mr. Ramey. This is one of these points that I would like to consult 

 my fellow Commissioners on. 



Mr. DtjPont. Well, I understand that. 



Maybe the question is not quite a fair one. 



