SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS 

 This report is an evaluation of: 



(1) The nature and amount of radioactive waste materials which would 

 conceivably be introduced into the sea through normal operations of 

 nuclear -powered ships. No conclusions are reached concerning the 

 safety of operating nuclear -powered ships in tideless, fresh water 

 bodies. 



(2) The routes by which such introduced activity would return to man 

 from the sea. 



(3) The portion of the maximum permissible dose to nnan, allotted to the 

 peaceful uses of nuclear energy, which should be permitted to orig- 

 inate from waste disposal operations from nuclear -powered ships. 



(4) The concentration by marine organisms of the various significant 

 isotopes in the w^astes. 



(5) The processes of dispersion of the wastes within the various sub- 

 divisions of the marine environment. 



(6) The permissible rate of introduction of the subject waste materials 

 into the various subdivisions of the marine environment. 



This report deals specifically with the wastes which would origi- 

 nate from a water cooled reactor. Other types of reactors will undoubt- 

 edly be used in future nuclear -powered ships; the character and amount 

 of wastes which might be introduced to the marine environment from 

 such future designs cannot now be stated accurately. It is believed, how- 

 ever, that the general conclusions of this working panel can be utilized 

 in formulating design criteria and operating doctrine, with respect to 

 waste disposal into the marine environment, for such future types of 

 marine reactors. 



In the present report it is assumed that the bulk of the fission prod- 

 ucts remain contained in the spent fuel elements and are removed from 

 the ship with these elements at time of refueling. The two principal 

 types of radioactive waste which could enter the marine environment 

 through the normal operation of nuclear -powered ships are: (a) a low 

 level liquid effluent originating, for the most part, in the primary coolant 

 system; and (b) spent ion exchange resins, used in the by-pass clean-up 

 system for the primary coolant. Other possible sources include 



