583 



While the United States has not been disposing of radioactive material in the 

 oceans during the last decade, several Western European countries have been 

 disposing of radioactive waste into the Eastern Atlantic Ocean for several years 

 under the jurisdiction of the Nuclear Energy Agency (former European Nuclear 

 Energy Agency). These disposals have been conducted in accordance with existing 

 international treaties and are considered by the responsible international authori- 

 ties to have no adverse effects on humans or the environment. The material dis- 

 posed of in the European operations was composed of various kinds of low-level 

 radioactive wastes encased in concrete inside metal drums. Due to the containment 

 and unique character of the radioactivity being an integral part of corrosion resist- 

 ant materials the environmental protection for the reactor plant of a decommis- 

 sioned submarine is inherently better. Preliminary estimates have been made that 

 the radiation exposure to humans would be much less than the exposure due to 

 natural background radiation. 



The assistance of Department of Energy laboratories and its subcontractors per- 

 forming specific tasks in the area of oceanographic sciences has been obtained to 

 evaluate the technical considerations involved. In addition, the Environmental Pro- 

 tection Agency has been informed of the preliminary work being conducted to 

 evaluate the alternatives for ultimate disposal of the reactor plants from decommis- 

 sioned submarines. No decision has yet been made on the advantage of one alterna- 

 tive for disposal over the other since the Navy is still collecting data and evaluating 

 both options. Any decision to proceed will not be taken until an Environmental 

 Impact Statement is prepared taking into account the views of the public, and other 

 interested government and non-government organizations. 



[Whereupon, at 4:50 p.m., the subcommittee was adjourned.] 



o 



