421 



the drum and we have not yet received the report. There is gener- 

 ally a 2 to 3 year lead time between the drum recovery and 

 completion of the drum analysis since it entails both matrix evalu- 

 ation of the concrete and testing of the metal for corrosion rates, 

 for both that portion of the waste package buried in the sediment 

 and that portion of the package exposed to sea water. 



However, we have completed the analyses of the drum that we 

 recovered in 1976 from the Atlantic 2,800-meter site, and obtained 

 some very interesting results. 



First of all, we knew that the most hazardous radioactive isotope 

 disposed of in that drum, based on the labeling on the drum, was 

 cobalt-60. After more than 12 to 14 years of immersion, none of the 

 cobalt-60 had been released. 



However, the cesium- 137 had been leached from the concrete and 

 was found in the sediment in the vicinity of the site. 



The other aspect of the analysis concerned the metal container 

 and concrete matrix. Based on the corrosion analysis, the metal 

 container was estimated to last between 25 to 37 years. The con- 

 crete itself was estimated to survive for 104 years in that particu- 

 lar environment. 



I should also add that the philosophy underlying these early 

 disposal operations was that the metal drum itself was not intend- 

 ed to provide any significant containment for these wastes. It was 

 primarily a form for transport and handling. 



Although the primary focus of our 1978 Atlantic survey effort 

 was to investigate the 3,800-meter dumpsite, there was also a sec- 

 ondary objective. This objective was to assist the U.S. Navy, at 

 their request, in: 



Putting down corrosion test panels at the Atlantic 2800m dump- 

 site for an estimate of corrosion rates of stainless steel after vary- 

 ing lengths of immersion in a deep-sea site. 



And, (2) Looking, very briefly and unsuccessfully, for the 

 SEA WOLF reactor which reportedly had been dumped at the At- 

 lantic 2,800-meter site in the late 1950's. 



I should add also that our primary role here was logistic support. 

 The actual program elements and objectives were handled by the 

 Navy. 



(Slide No. 16.) 



