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Atlantic Ocean 



The following is a summary of seventeen research reports prepared 

 for EPA/ORP on the 1974, 1975, 1976, and 1978 surveys of the 2800 meter 

 and 3800 meter Atlantic dumpsites. In some instances where researchers 

 were involved in investigations at both the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean 

 sites, there may be overlap between information reported in Atlantic and 

 Pacific Ocean reports. 



(1) Dyer, Robert S., "Investigation of Radioactive Waste Disposal 

 at Deepwater Dumpsite 106", in May 1974 Baseline Investigation 

 of Deepwater Dumpsite 106 , NOAA Dumpsite Evaluation Report 

 75-1, December 1975. 



This published report describes the purposes of sediment and 

 biological sample collection at the site and the manner in which 

 shipboard operations were conducted. Recommendations for future work 

 are also included. 



(2) EPA Eastern Environmental Radiation Facility (EERF) 

 radioanalytical data, found in: Dyer, Robert S., "Environmental 

 Surveys of Two Deepsea Radioactive Waste Disposal Sites Using 

 Submersibles", Management of Radioactive Wastes from the 

 Nuclear Fuel Cycle, IAEA, Vienna, March 1976. 



This published paper describes the early survey work at the 900 

 meter and 1700 meter sites in the Pacific and the 2800 meter site in the 

 Atlantic. Radioactive waste containers were located for the first time, 

 with the use of submersibles. Radioanalytical results by EERF for the 

 2800 meter site in the Atlantic are presented in Table IV. Cesium-137 

 contamination was found in three sediment cores taken from near waste 

 containers. It is believed to be the result of leaching from the 

 concrete matrix of the containers. At the Farallon Islands, values for 

 Pu-239, 240 found in sediment samples taken from near some waste 

 containers exceeded expected values for this latitude and depth, as did 

 the ratio of Pu-238 to Pu-239, 240. The plutonium distribution in the 

 sediment near some containers indicates that the release from the 

 containers could have occurred many years ago. 



(3) Neiheisel, James, "Sediment Characteristics of the 2800 Meter 

 Atlantic Nuclear Waste Disposal Site: Radionuclide Retention 

 Potential", EPA Technical Note ORP/TAD-79-10, September 1979. 



This EPA published report characterizes the sediments from the 1974 

 2800 meter radioactive waste disposal site survey. The chemical 

 analyses were performed on sediments which had been in storage. 



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