250 



radioactivity per unit mass of packaged material. For the dumping 

 of low-level radioactive wastes that is permitted under the Conven- 

 tion there is also an established limit on the total mass of radioac- 

 tive materials which may be dumped annually at a site and recom- 

 mended total quantities which may be dumped at each site. There 

 is no limit on the number of sites, although site proliferation has 

 been discouraged. 



The IAEA is also responsible for providing recommendations to 

 parties on practices for dumping these low-level radioactive wastes. 

 These include guidelines on environmental evaluation of dumping 

 applications, dumpsite selection, monitoring, assessment, packaging 

 of materials, and recordkeeping. 



The definition and recommendations are under continuous 

 review. As part of this effort, several activities are underway, 

 including: 



(a) A review of the oceanographic model used in formulating the 

 Definition; 



(6) A review of de minimis levels, to establish criteria for consid- 

 ering materials to be nonradioactive for ocean dumping purposes; 



(c) The initiation of a coordinated research program on trans- 

 uranic cycling in the marine environment. 



The IAEA is committed to continuing its responsibilities under 

 the London Dumping Convention and other conventions. The 

 United States very strongly supports this role. 



Another international agreement concerning the regulation of 

 ocean disposal of radioactive materials is the multilateral consulta- 

 tion and surveillance mechanism functioning within the Nuclear 

 Energy Agency (NEA) of the Organization for Economic Coopera- 

 tion and Development (OECD). 



Established in 1977, this body is charged with setting and review- 

 ing guidelines, standards, and procedures for the safe disposal of 

 radioactive material at sea. The NEA guidelines, which are to take 

 into account the standards of the London Dumping Convention and 

 the IAEA's definition and recommendations, cover dumpsites and 

 packaging and operating procedures related to sea disposal. They 

 also call for assessment and review of environmental, ecological, 

 and radiological protection studies relating to sea disposal activi- 

 ties. They require periodic assessments — at no less than 5-year 

 intervals — of the continued suitability of the selected dumpsites. 

 Participating countries which decide to carry out dumping oper- 

 ations must notify the NEA 6 months before the scheduled date of 

 the operation, 12 months if a new site is proposed. They must 

 include in the notification the composition and characteristics of 

 the material, the site and reasons for its selection, including an 

 environmental assessment, and the procedures to be followed. 

 These latter must be in accord with NEA standards and recom- 

 mended practices. In addition, the country of origin must name, or 

 request the appointment of, an escorting officer to insure compli- 

 ance. The NEA reviews the proposed plans, if necessary seeking 

 the views of outside specialists, and names an NEA representative 

 to observe the operation. The NEA maintains records of disposal 

 operations which, with the approval of the country involved, may 

 be furnished to the Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative Or- 

 ganization (IMCO). 



