252 



for approval in April. Needless to say we welcome this develop- 

 ment. 



Our concerns are part of the record. We have raised them repeat- 

 edly in several fora: The NEA; the consultative meetings of the 

 London Dumping Convention; and the IAEA. 



The philosophical underpinning for these concerns is the idea 

 that we should take no irreversible actions which might destroy 

 resources for future generations. 



Mr. Chairman, this summarizes our prepared statement on inter- 

 national rules applicable to the ocean disposal of radioactive mate- 

 rials. But we have been asked to address a specific item about H.R. 

 8119, a bill to require the Secretary of Commerce to undertake a 

 study to determine the effects of past ocean dumping of radioactive 

 wastes. 



This bill, if broadly interpreted, could be construed to call for a 

 study of the Northeast Atlantic Dumpsite as well as dumpsites 

 used previously by the United States. Such a study would consti- 

 tute a valuable addition to the overall body of knowledge on ocean 

 disposal of radioactive materials. Therefore we warmly support its 

 objectives. 



As noted, there has been progress recently in efforts to encour- 

 age a thorough review of the effects of dumping practices at the 

 Northeast Atlantic site. A study such as that called for in H.R. 

 8119 would be helpful if it effectively complemented, and was 

 carried out in cooperation with the NEA program. 



Mr. Chairman, that concludes the summary of my prepared 

 statement. 



[The following was received for the record:] 



Prepared Statement by Leslie H. Brown, Senior Deputy Assistant Secretary, 

 Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, 

 U.S. Department of State 



Mr. Chairman; Thank you for inviting the Department of State to appear before 

 the Subcommittee today. I welcome the opportunity which the subcommittee has 

 provided to discuss the issues associated with the disposal of radioactive waste in 

 the oceans. How we, as a nation and as a member of the world community, deal 

 with these issues will have a significant effect upon our foreign relations as well as 

 upon efforts to ensure the long term protection of the marine environment. 



The principal international agreement governing ocean disposal of a wide variety 

 of substances, including radioactive wastes, is the 1972 Convention on the Preven- 

 tion of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter (London Dumping 

 Convention). Under the London Dumping Convention, the dumping of high-level 

 radioactive waste is prohibited. Special permits are required before other radioac- 

 tive waste may be dumped. Forty-seven countries are parties to the London Dump- 

 ing Convention, including the United States. Papua New Guinea, Suriname, Hondu- 

 ras and Japan all became parties this year. There are also a number of regional 

 conventions dealing with radioactive material which are as strict or stricter than 

 the London Dumping Convention. For example, the Convention on the Protection of 

 the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area (Helsinki Convention) prohibits all 

 dumping except that of dredge spoil; the Protocol for the Prevention of Pollution of 

 the Mediterranean Sea by Dumping from Ships and Aircraft prohibits essentially 

 all dumping by the Parties in the Mediterranean. The United States is not party to 

 any of these regional dumping agreements. 



The London Dumping Convention relies primarily upon the International Atomic 

 Energy Agency (IAEA) in carrying out its responsibilities with respect to the sea 

 disposal of radioactive materials. 



The London Dumping Convention designates the IAEA as the body to define 

 "high-level radioactive wastes and other matter" whose dumping at sea is prohibit- 



