518 



In enacting these measures Congress had two purposes in mind. 

 First, we sought to provide needed time for additional research on 

 the effects of radioactive waste dumping before any changes could 

 be made in longstanding dumping policies. Second, we sought to 

 give the Congress the ultimate responsibility for any such momen- 

 tous policy changes. The question of possible future dumping of 

 low-level radioactive waste continues to engender great concern 

 among Members of the Congress. Therefore, I look forward to hear- 

 ing about the impact these provisions have had on any continuing 

 interest in the use of the oceans for disposal of low-level radioactive 

 waste. 



The second issue that the witnesses have been asked to address 

 concerns the U.S. role in international policy decisions regarding 

 radioactive waste dumping. I note that most of today's witnesses 

 were with me last February at the most recent consultative meet- 

 ing of the London Dumping Convention. At that time, the LDC con- 

 tracting parties took up proposals to end international activities in 

 radioactive waste dumping. In the end the parties agreed to a 2- 

 year study of the issue. They also approved a nonbinding resolution 

 urging a moratorium until the conclusion of the 2-year review. As 

 many of you know, the U.S. delegation felt constrained to vote 

 against that resolution. There is an honest difference of opinion as 

 to whether we, in fact, had to oppose it. There can be little differ- 

 ence of opinion, however, over our delegation's failure to play a 

 leadership role in shaping a resolution we could have supported. 



Therefore, I look forward this morning to hearing about any sub- 

 sequent reappraisals of our role in London and in future delibera- 

 tions of that body on the radioactive waste issue. I look forward to 

 hearing about the upcoming deliberations in the South Pacific con- 

 cerning this same issue. 



As I predicted, we have a vote on the Journal, which I will have 

 to run to attend. I will be back within 10 minutes and we will 

 begin at that time with the testimony. So we will stand in recess 

 until that time. 



[A short recess was taken.] 



Mr. D' Amours. The hearing will reconvene. I want to ask unani- 

 mous consent and, therefore, order that the statements of Mr. 

 Pritchard, Mr. Shumway, and Mr. Forsythe be included in the 

 record. 



[The statements of Mr. Pritchard, Mr. Shumway, and Mr. For- 

 sythe follow:] 



Statement of Joel Pritchard, a Representative in Congress From the State of 



Washington 



Mr. Chairman, I would like to thank you for scheduling this timely hearing on 

 the ocean disposal of radioactive waste material. The witnesses testifjdng today will 

 provide us with the opportunity to ascertain what the current radioactive waste 

 ocean disposal policy options are on both the Domestic as well as international 

 Fronts. 



This hearing will also give us a chance to focus on the following related issues: (1) 

 what research has been initiated or completed on the effects of radioactive waste 

 disposal at sea; (2) the technical and legal status of subseabed disposal; (3) the effects 

 of the radioactive waste amendments to the Ocean Dumping Act enacted in Janu- 

 ary, 1983; and (4) the United States Navy proposal to dump decommissioned U.S. 

 Navy submarines off the United States coast, as well as the current status of the 

 land disposal for radioactive waste. 



