594 
As a result, its principal conclusions are defective. After care- 
ful consideration of the GAO Report and other pertinent evidence, 
we believe that our findings set forth at page 4 are the ones 
that should have been given in response to Senator Roth's request. 
Implicit in our findings, and in the body of this paper, is 
the conclusion that at present it is premature to reverse the 
existing U.S. policy of non-ocean dumping of radioactive wastes. 
Unless and until a more accurate assessment of the hazards of 
past dumping has been completed, and unless and until past dump 
sites and "test" sites have been monitored in order to provide 
empirical data and a sound predictive capability and validation 
system, no serious consideration should be given to the use of 
the oceans as a disposal medium for radioactive wastes. Once 
these concerns are met, it will then be appropriate for all the 
variables associated with a comprehensive nuclear waste policy 
(e.g., economic, social, environmental and political considera- 
tions) to be addressed in relation to future decisions concerning 
the disposal of radioactive wastes. 
This paper has been endorsed by the following organizations: 
Center for Environmental Education 
Clean Water Action Project 
Committee to Bridge the Gap 
Critical Mass Energy Project 
Environmental Defense Fund 
Friends of the Earth 
Greenpeace, U.S.A 
Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, Inc. 
National Audubon Society 
Natural Resources Defense Council 
Nuclear Information Resource Service 
Oceanic Society 
Southwest Research and Information Center 
Sierra Club 
Union of Concerned Scientists 
[Whereupon, at 1:15 p.m. the Subcommittee on Oceanography, 
the Subcommittee on Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation and the 
Environment of the Committee on Merchant Marine adjourned, 
subject to the call of the Chair.] 
