450 



him — that I can answer for you today. That's a fairly straightfor- 

 ward calculation and the science is well developed. 



But another question that you should ask yourself is: How does it 

 compare to what's normally there, either from low-level manmade 

 activities such as fallout from weapons, or from nature. In answer- 

 ing those kinds of questions, the data is very, very limited. We 

 have done very little basic research about radioactivity in the 

 marine environment. 



Mr. Hughes. Thank you. My time has expired. 



You have been very helpful. I appreciate your testimony. You 

 have answered a most important question to me. If I understand 

 your testimony correctly, you indicated that if we conclude you 

 can't build a canister that would be safe enough to contain this 

 material, then it would violate the statute? Did I understand your 

 testimony correctly? 



Mr. Mattson. I'm saying you could not comply with the statute 

 unless you produce a canister that will contain the materials until 

 they decay to innocuous levels. 



Mr. Hughes. Yes. 



Mr. Mattson. EPA has said that in its regulations issued in 

 1973. 



Mr. Hughes. Thank you. 



Mr. Studds. Let me ask you a couple of very quick final ques- 

 tions. I understand Mr. Anderson has a couple of equally quick 

 ones. 



With respect to the Ocean Dumping Act, is it your understand- 

 ing that it applies to all U.S. citizens, both public and private? 



Mr. Mattson. Yes. 



Mr. Studds. Does it apply to those citizens in all the waters of 

 the world, or just in certain waters, within certain kinds of U.S. 

 jurisdiction? 



Mr. Mattson. All waters of the world. 



Mr. Studds. All waters of the world. 



Mr. Mattson. Yes, sir. 



Mr. Studds. This may be redundant, but I want to make certain 

 I understand it clearly. It would apply, for example, to the U.S. 

 Navy anywhere in the oceans of the world? 



Mr. Mattson. Yes, sir. 



Mr. Studds. With respect to high-level wastes, the disposal in the 

 sea of high-level wastes, is illegal both under our domestic law and 

 under the London Convention; is that correct? 



Mr. Mattson. I'm not a lawyer, I'm an engineer 



Mr. Studds. I think that's why 



Mr. Mattson. The word "illegal" is not the one I used in my 

 testimony. I said "prohibited." To the extent they mean the same, 

 then I would agree with your statement. Prohibited, yes. I'm not 

 sure what illegal means as an engineer. 



Mr. Studds. Let's just agree to talk in common English and the 

 hell with the lawyers for the moment. 



Mr. Mattson. OK. They mean the same to you and they mean 

 the same to me. 



Mr. Studds. All right. 



