398 



3 

 at 1500X using an oil immersion lens. No special measures were taken to avoid 

 bacterial contamination of the sample nor were aseptic techniques used in 

 preparing the filtered seawater. 



3.0 RESULTS 



3.1 Photographic Analysis 



Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the container showing the locations 

 from which each of the photographs in Figures 2 through 9 were taken. Figures 

 2 through 9 show the general condition of the container immediately upon 

 recovery. Note that the container as it sat on the deck was upside down 

 compared to its position on the sea floor. I 



Figure 2a shows the concrete end of the drum seconds after it first broke 



the surface of the water. The identifying markings on the concrete end are 



legible in Figure 2b and include such information as the package number (28), 



the volume of the waste-matrix mixture (9.0 cubic feet), the weight of the 



package (l682 pounds), the most hazardous isotope present in the package 

 one meter fro»r>. 



(Gobalt-60) and the dose rate at. the surface of the drum at the time of 



A 



packaging (3 millirads/hour) . Information not clearly visible in Figure 2(b) 

 indicated that the radioactive waste package was prepared in 1961. Prior to 

 the start of recovery operations the drum sat partially embedded in the bottom 

 sediments. The sediment line is clearly visible in Figure 2, the black 

 portion of the concrete end having been in the mud. 



