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This report describes the geological and topographical regime at the 

 3800 meter radioactive waste disposal site. The area was observed 

 directly through use of the manned submersible ALVIN, and was found to 

 be unstable, due to sediment slumping or avalanche activity. The 

 containers might be buried by these activities in the future. They also 

 might be moved around and thus be subject to damage mechanisms other 

 than corrosion. 



Such geological information is important in developing future site 

 selection criteria for the ocean disposal option for low-level 

 radioactive materials. 



(15) Musick, John A., and Kenneth J. Sulak, "Characterization of the 

 Demersal Fish Community of a Deep-Sea Radioactive Dump Site 

 (Results of Cruise, EPA-7801, R. V. ADVANCE II, 21-27 June 

 1978), May 1978. 



Bottom fish were collected through deep water trawling operations. 

 No differences were found between the fish assemblage at the radioactive 

 waste disposal site and other regions of similar depth. The dominant 

 fish species was Coryphaenoides armatus , the rattail, a large mobile 

 species capable of long-distance migrations. 



This information on fish population abundance, biomass, diversity 

 and migratory patterns assists in evaluating potential transport of 

 nuclides from the site to man. 



(16) Reish, Donald J., "Survey of the Benthic Invertebrates 

 Collected from the United States Radioactive Waste Disposal 

 Site-Atlantic Ocean 3800-Meter Location", November 1979. 



Infaunal populations were taxonomical ly identified. As was the case 

 at the 2800 meter site, polychaetes were the most abundant group at the 

 3800 meter site. Since they actively rework the sediment, the potential 

 for slow radionuclide movement through the sediment exists. The 

 organisms collected at this site were also similar in their small size 

 to those obtained at the 2800 meter site; Atlantic specimens are 

 typically smaller than Pacific infauna. Some mention is made in this 

 report of feeding patterns and potential food chain links. 



While some new species and genera of polychaetes may have been 

 collected, no unusual or aberrant forms were noticed. 



(17) Schell, W.R., and A. Nevissi, "Radionuclides at the U.S. 

 Radioactive Waste Disposal Site in the Hudson Canyon, 350 Km 

 Off New York City", January 1980. 



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