454 



Mr. Mattson. With EPA for 3 months. 



Mr. Studds. So you have been longer with the Government? 



Mr. Mattson. Yes, sir. 



Mr. Studds. Oh; I was going to suggest that might be why you 

 had such ease in communicating with us. [Laughter.] 



Thank you for a fascinating time. We appreciate it, and we'll 

 probably be back with more questions. 



Mr. Mattson. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 



Mr. Studds. Our next witness — and I don't believe we've ever 

 had a hearing this long in this subcommittee without having this 

 witness appear — James P. Walsh, Deputy Administrator of NOAA 



You are still Deputy Administrator of NOAA, are you not? 

 [Laughter.] 



STATEMENT OF JAMES P. WALSH, DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR, 

 NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION, 

 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, ACCOMPANIED BY NED A. 

 OSTENSO, DEPUTY ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR FOR RE- 

 SEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, NOAA, AND THOMAS O'CON- 

 NOR, OFFICE OF MARINE POLLUTION ASSESSMENT, NOAA 



Mr. Walsh. I'll answer your last question first, Mr. Chairman. I 

 am not only today the Deputy Administrator, I am the Acting 

 Administrator and will continue as the deputy into the near 

 future. However, I suspect that this will be my last and most 

 enjoyable appearance before this committee. 



Mr. Studds. We can't deal with emotion like that, you know 

 that. [Laughter.] 



Copies of your statement and resume 



Mr. Walsh. Will be burned. 



Mr. Studds [continuing]. Are on the table, and they will be made 

 a part of the record. 



Mr. Walsh. All right, sir. 



[The following was received for the record:] 



Prepared Statement of James P. Walsh, Deputy Administrator, National 

 Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 



Mr. Chairman and Members of the Committee, I am pleased to appear before you 

 today to discuss the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) 

 activities related to ocean disposal of radioactive waste products. The disposal of 

 high-level radioactive waste products. The disposal of high-level radioactive waste 

 has been viewed as a relatively minor issue compared to other problems with 

 nuclear fuel, until recently. Now considerable concern exists about the desirability 

 of land disposal of high-level nuclear waste. Consequently, alternative methods of 

 disposal are being examined in depth. NOAA is conducting some research in a 

 number of areas which will help evaluate the potential environmental effects of 

 seabed disposal so that the alternatives will be more clearly understood. 



This morning I will focus primarily on NOAA's activities concerning ocean dispos- 

 al of high-level radioactive waste and will comment briefly on the possible environ- 

 mental effects of low-level radioactive waste disposal in the ocean. 



OCEAN disposal OF HIGH-LEVEL NUCLEAR WASTE 



1. NOAA 's legislative authorities 



In recent years, NOAA has been assigned responsibility for a number of marine 

 pollution research programs. The Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act 

 of 1972 (P.L. 92-532) authorizes an ocean dumping research and monitoring pro- 

 gram. Section 202 of the Act calls for the study by NOAA of the long-term effects of 

 ocean pollution. In addition, the national Ocean Polution Planning Act of 1978 (P.L. 

 95-273) requires NOAA to prepare a 5-year federal plan for ocean pollution re- 

 search, development, and monitoring, and to establish within NOAA a comprehen- 



