458 



As you know, the disposal of high-level radioactive waste is, in 

 the opinion of many, prohibited by the Convention, although the 

 interpretation is somewhat unclear. An amendment might be re- 

 quired before such wastes could be emplaced in the deep seabed. 



Our current involvement in research assessing seabed disposal of 

 high-level radioactive waste is in those areas where we have tradi- 

 tional responsibility or have expertise: Areas such as ocean survey- 

 ing, charting, sediment engineering, pollution assessment, fisheries, 

 and data management. I will describe our projects in a little more 

 detail in a moment. However, our overall policy has been to con- 

 centrate on research in our established areas of expertise within 

 the limits of available resources and to coordinate closely with the 

 Department of Energy so that our two programs do not overlap 

 but, rather, complements the other's research. 



Let me turn to our coordination with the Department of Energy. 

 The Department of Energy has already talked about their radioac- 

 tive waste management program. We have a close working rela- 

 tionship, which is getting closer with DOE, and its contractor, 

 Sandia Laboratories. We are currently discussing with DOE how 

 we might assist in investigating the question of subseabed disposal 

 of radioactive wastes. We have yet not signed a formal interagency 

 agreement, but we have identified six areas in which NOAA might 

 be of help. 



One, we may assist with site studies. We have recently acquired 

 the capability to map large areas of the seafloor in detail, using 

 SEABEAM's swath sonar system. This could be quite useful in 

 looking at potential sites in more depth. 



Two, NOAA also has vast quantities of data on the ocean, on 

 questions such as productivity, fishing density, ecosystems, water 

 temperature and salinity, and currents which would be needed in 

 any kind of site selection and risk analysis. 



Three, we have the satellite capability to link up field activities 

 and relay information to processing facilities as a service. 



Four, we have some capability in the area of engineering feasibil- 

 ity in the ocean, and we plan to provide input to DOE on ocean 

 engineering methods and techniques. 



Five, we also could assist DOE in developing strategies and tech- 

 niques applicable to monitoring oceanographic parameters at var- 

 ious seabed disposal sites. 



Six, finally, we have been requested by DOE to review through 

 the scientific peer review system their research programs and field 

 experiments. 



We hope to sign an interagency agreement with DOE in the near 

 future which will outline these specific joint responsibilities. 



My written testimony then, Mr. Chairman, highlights in some 

 detail other further studies. I think I'll skip that for now in the 

 interest of brevity. 



Let me conclude by saying that the research I have described 

 here I think will help better understand the alternatives for dispos- 

 al of high-level nuclear wastes in a safe and environmentally ac- 

 ceptable manner. At this point we must confess we know relatively 

 little about many aspects of seabed disposal, but we hope these 

 projects will help remove some of the uncertainty. 



