1230 
We believe that during the next few years efforts should be focussed on the 
following: 
(a) detailed study of the environmental and nuclear safety advantages which 
can be obtained from island siting ; 
(bo) consideration of various engineering approaches to the construction or 
use of islands, including the trade-offs that could improve the economics of island 
siting as compared with typical on-shore siting 
(c) identification of legal and other encumbrances associated with island 
siting ; and 
(d@) demonstration of island siting, incorporating features leading to an eco- 
logically acceptable design. 
The Bolsa Island Nuclear Power and Desalting Plant project in southern 
California was designed to demonstrate the technological and economical feasi- 
bility of siting nuclear power plants on man-made islands. However, this proj- 
ect has been terminated and a suitable alternative demonstration of island siting 
has not yet been identified. As I have indicated above, preliminary studies of 
submerged sites for nuclear plants on the continental shelf have been completed. 
Some continued investigation of the technological aspects and comparative eco- 
nomics of this concept is contemplated, but no major AEC program effort on this 
subject is underway or planned at this time. 
(3) DEVELOPMENT OF POWER SYSTEMS FOR UNDERSEA OPERATIONS AND RESOURCE 
DEVELOPMENT, INCLUDING NUCLEAR SYSTEMS 
The Marine Commission recommends support by the proposed National Oceanic 
and Atimospheric Agency for “technology development of power systems neces- 
sary for undersea operations and resource development.” (page 162) 
In the March 1968 report of the National Council on Marine Resources and 
Engineering Development to the President, the absence of reliable and self- 
sustaining power sources is identified as “Perhaps the most critical, unmet need 
of underwater technology . . .” (page 151) The Marine Commission report accu 
rately recognizes that the needs for reliable and self-sustaining power cannot bt 
met by any one single type of power source for all power level, endurance anc 
ambient pressure requirements associated with present and prospective underseé 
tasks. Present technological capability with respect to self-sustaining undersea 
power sources has been demonstrated to be inadequate to meet the requirements 
of many possible undersea missions and tasks. Without effective, reliable power 
sources, such missions cannot advance far beyond the concept stage. 
Since 1962 the AEC has, in keeping with its statutory responsibilities with 
respect to the peaceful applications of nuclear energy, pursued the development 
of self-sustaining and long-lived nuclear power sources for undersea and marine 
applications. The unique characteristics of nuclear reactor and radioisotope 
power sources in terms of their endurance capability, reliability, compactness 
and environmental capability are such that these characteristics may be profit- 
ably applied to meeting a large portion of deep ocean applications and tasks. 
Current AEC efforts involve the design, development and demonstration of 
radioisotope sources at electrical power levels up to 100 watts. This emphasis 
is to meet projected near-term applications involving ocean experimentation and 
exploration which, in general, will require long-endurance, low-power sources. 
Plans have been established to initiate the development of both large radioiso- 
tope sources (1-10 kilowatts) and oceanographic reactor sources at power levels 
of several hundred kilowatts that are being projected for manned undersea 
stations and other large oceanographic and continental shelf installations. This 
prospective need is,not, however, nearly as well defined nor close at hand as the 
need for low-power sources to warrant expenditure of AEC’s very limited 
resources. These latter programs will involve an extensive long-term research 
and development effort on the part of the AEC. 
In summary, the AEC believes that legislation along the lines of H.R. 4148 and 
S. 7 is desirable. Island siting of nuclear power plants appears more promising 
than submerged siting. We believe the development of suitable power sources 
is essential if undersea missions are to be accomplished, and plan to continue 
to work closely with other agencies in identifying possible priorities for the devel- 
opment of nuclear power sources for ocean missions. 
STATEMENT OF Scott H. ELpER, GENERAL COUNSEL, LAKE CARRIERS’ ASSOCIATION 
This Bill would amend the Marine Resources and Engineering Act of 1966 
(33 U.S.C.A. §§ 1101-1108) to establish an independent agency to be know as the 
