582 
=4= 
Although we indicated that most of the existing 
studies on the Farallon Islands and Atlantic dump- 
sites contain no convincing evidence of a serious 
present or future threat to aquatic or human health, 
we went on to say that "present evidence indicates 
a relatively small increase in radiation exposure 
from eating fish at the highest level of radioacti- 
vity detected . .. [and] we recommend[ed] that an 
expanded monitoring program be developed for bony 
fish, shellfish, and other marine food items. . . 
[and] that the monitoring program extend along the 
enitinemattected coastsrmo2/, 
In addition to misrepresenting the literature referred to 
above, it is significant to note that the GAO Report does not 
mention the "Federal Plan for Ocean Pollution Research, Development 
and Monitoring" which is conducted every two years by an inter- 
agency committee to assess the state of ocean pollution and to 
63/ 
develop national priorities for five-year time frames. The 
plan for 1979-83 establishes radioactive dumpsite monitoring as 
a high siniosey OY and the 1981-85 second iteration of the five- 
year Plan states that 
[e]xisting disposal sites provide an excellent experi- 
mental situation to study the physical, chemical, and 
biological processes that incorporate, transform, and 
accumulate radioactive elements and cause these toxic 
substances to migrate from the disposal canister to 
biological receptors (including humans). 
* * * 
Studies undertaken by EPA and NOAA should employ 
existing disposal sites to determine release rates 
of radioactive materials to sediments and water, to 
62/ Herz Letter, supra note 60, at 1-2. 
63/ These five-year plans are required pursuant to the National 
Ocean Pollution Research and Development and Monitoring Planning 
AGE Ore AVIS Wohs QSe27S3, Mey Bp W773, SS WsScEs SLVOL, ae SLIO4.- 
64/ Interagency Committee on Ocean Pollution Research, Develop- 
ment and Monitorine/Federal Coordinating Council for Science, 
Engineering and Technology, Federal Plan for Ocean Pollution 
Research, Development, and Monitoring, Fiscal Years 1979=83, at 
130. 
