267 



the lead insulation may also reduce the internal radiation emis- 

 sions by a factor of 10. So the internal radiation levels may be 

 much higher than the 200 millirem external radiation. Possibly 

 between 2 and 20 rems per hour. As a comparison, the NRC only 

 allows workers in an atomic energy plant to be exposed to 5 rems 

 per year. I mentioned before 2 to 20 rems per hour. We are talking 

 about the NRC of 5 rems per year. One can only speculate about 

 the danger posed by the drums which an AEC inspector found on a 

 ship which measured over 1,500 millirems on the outside of the 

 drum. These high-level drums originated at Livermore Laborato- 

 ries. 



This brings us to the mysterious concrete forms which were used 

 to dispose of large radioactive materials. 



Mr. Studds. Mr. Anderson, if you will suspend now, we have the 

 second bells for a vote, and the subcommittee will stand adjourned 

 for 10 minutes. We will be right back. 



[Short recess.] 



Mr. Studds. The subcommittee will come to order. 



Mr. Anderson. In my remarks I made the comment that we 

 must not look at the external but the internal radiations, and we 

 will. I pointed out that 25 percent of the containers had been, 

 according to EPA studies, had been visibly crushed, and I compared 

 then the internal radiation level may be much higher than the 200 

 millirem, probably between 2 and 20 rems per hour, as compared 

 to the NRC which allows workers in an atomic energy plant to be 

 exposed to 5 rems per year. One could only speculate to the danger 

 posed by the drums which an AEC inspector found on a ship which 

 measured over 1,500 millirems on the outside of the drum. 



These high-level drums originated at Livermore Laboratories. 



This brings us to the mysterious concrete forms which were used 

 to dispose of large radioactive materials. 



I have here diagram D-0048 illustrates one such concrete struc- 

 ture. Inside lies a beryllium nuclear warhead, for which the dispos- 

 al company said "Considerable risk would be involved in cutting 

 the cone to fit regular barrels." 



Drawing D-0045 shows us the "High Level Configuration of a 

 Solidified Liquid Drum Block." As you can see from this illustra- 

 tion, the high-level drum is located closer to the center of the block 

 to provide additional concrete insulation. Again concrete insulation 

 can decrease the radiation emissions from over 2 rems internally, 

 to under 200 millirems externally. And, finally, in drawings D-0049 

 and D-0042, can you show both at the same time? We will 

 take D-0049 first and then D-0042. You can hold them both up 

 there. 



We have two more specially designed "high level" waste contain- 

 ers, with between 10 and 8 inches of steel and concrete insulation 

 to reduce the high internal radiation levels. To my knowledge, the 

 EPA has never seen, let alone examined, one of these structures 

 which weigh at least 10 tons each. 



EPA may say if high-level drums were present it would have 

 been noticed in their samples. Which leads us to the crux of the 

 whole issue — ^just how representative of all the wastes dropped 

 were the few drums which EPA examined. There were over 48,000 

 radioactive waste containers dumped in the Pacific Ocean, EPA 



69-8148 



