301 



developed in detail, at this time, we are considering free-fall penetrators, power 

 injection, and trenching or drilling. 



It is clear that much additional research and development is needed before the 

 feasibility of the concept will be demonstrated. Two key questions must be answered 

 in order to demonstrate technical feasibility and environmental acceptability of 

 subseabed disposal. First, is there a barrier or set of barriers, natural or man-made, 

 that will offer satisfactory containment of radionuclides? Secondly, will these bar- 

 riers remain adequate after introduction of waste containers? The natural barriers 

 under consideration include the sediments, the basement rock, and the ocean. The 

 man-made barriers being assessed include the canister, the waste form, and the use 

 of layers such as overpacks. Although no definite conclusions have been reached, at 

 present subseabed disposal appears to be a viable disposal option. Accordingly, the 

 Subseabed Disposal Program is a multi-disciplinary effort to identify, technical, 

 institutional, legal, and regulatory issues which must be addressed and resolved on 

 a National and international basis. A multi-year Subseabed Program Plan, issued in 

 January 1980, outlines in some detail the current and planned activities. 



The U.S. leads the world in ocean drilling for research purposes. The Internation- 

 al Phase of the Ocean Drilling under the management of the National Science 

 Foundation with support from the Federal Republic of Germany, the United King- 

 dom, France, Japan, and the Soviet Union has resulted in a greatly increased 

 knowledge of the ocean floors. 



A final Environmental Impact Statement on the management of commercially 

 generated radioactive waste has recently been made available to Congress and the 

 public. This statement will serve as the environmental input for a formal decision 

 on whether to adopt our proposed high-level commercial waste strategy, which is 

 based on the disposal of radioactive waste in mined geologic repositories — with the 

 alternative subseabed disposal concept also assessed as a future alternative. 



The DOE Subseabed Disposal Program budget for fiscal year 1981 is $6.9 million. 

 A table of historical funding levels is attached to this statement. Our principle near- 

 term milestones are: (1) in 1981, we plan to select three regional areas in the North 

 Atlantic and North Pacific and, within those areas, select one or more smaller areas 

 in each ocean for more detailed study; and (2) complete fabrication and design 

 verification testing of an in-situ heat transfer experiment for field testing by late 

 1983. The exploratory studies and subprogram testing that we will be conducting 

 under the Subseabed Disposal Program subject the public to no risk at all. No 

 radioactive waste will be emplaced at this state. 



INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITY 



An integral part of the Subseabed Disposal Program is the international coopera- 

 tive research and development which is coordinated through the Seabed Working 

 Group of the Nuclear Energy Agency of the Orgainzation for Economic Cooperation 

 and Development. That Working Group currently consists of six nations — Canada, 

 France, Japan, Netherlands, U.K. and U.S., with West Germany and Switzerland 

 participating as obervers. The objectives of the Working Group are to: provide a 

 forum for discussion, assessing progress, and planning future efforts; coordinate 

 research vessel cruises; share facilities; exchange information; discuss international 

 policy issues; and identify international issues requiring resolution. 



PUBUC PARTICIPATION 



The Subseabed Disposal Program Plan includes long-term planning for public 

 participation are response requirements under the National Environmental Policy 

 Act. Efforts are being made to identify public concerns at an early date in order to 

 factor them into the planning process for further scientific, technical, and environ- 

 mental investigation. 



Should the subseabed disposal concept prove environmental and technically feasi- 

 ble, the Department recognizes that institutional and public acceptance of the 

 overall concept will have to be gained. 



LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS 



The U.S. Marine Protection Research and Sanctuaries Act of 1972 prohibits ocean 

 disposal of high-level wastes and provides for EPA licensing of all low-level radioac- 

 tive waste disposal into the oceans. Furthermore, it has been suggested that the 

 implementation of subseabed disposal of spent nuclear fuel would be in violation of 

 the cited Act and would, therefore, require specific U.S. Congressional action before 

 adoption. But further technical and environmental information should be developed 

 before we come to final judgments concerning whether the existing legal framework 



