519 



These aforementioned issues are not easy, and I am hopeful that the witnesses 

 today will provide us with useful information, and I look forward to receiving all of 

 your testimony. Thank you. 



Statement of Hon. Norman D. Shumway, a Representative in Congress From 

 THE State of California 



I would like to take this opportunity, Mr. Chairman, to commend you on your ef- 

 forts in convening this subcommittee to hear testimony on the extremely sensitive 

 matter of radioactive waste disposal. Further, I would like to express my apprecia- 

 t' . T the expert panel of witnesses before us today for their concern with radwaste 

 dui, oing as well. 



There can be no doubt that disposal of radioactive waste has to be accomplished 

 in a proper and responsible fashion. I look forward to hearing testimony on the do- 

 mestic and international implications of ocean dumping — a particular form of rad- 

 waste disposal which has not been used in over ten years. In light of this nation's 

 record of using alternate land-based methods, even the suggestion of change must 

 require the utmost scrutiny our technology allows. 



Of particular interest to me, Mr. Chairman, is the U.S. Navy's consideration to 

 scuttle its aging nuclear submarine fleet off U.S. coasts. Present law forbids such 

 action until at least 1985. I am especially pleased that the members of this subcom- 

 mittee are being given every opportunity to review in a full and lengthy fashion any 

 information pertinent to forthcoming Navy decisions. I am also confident that the 

 Navy will go beyond normal procedures in its efforts to evaluate all conceivable fac- 

 tors associated with ocean dumping and its alternatives. 



The draft environmental impact statement published in December of 1982 speci- 

 fied the waters off the coasts of North Carolina and northern California as possible 

 dumpsites. The result in my California district was one of well founded concern. The 

 prospect of having nuclear submarines dumped within several hundred miles of 

 one's home is frightening. However, the provisions included in the Surface Trans- 

 portation Assistance Act of 1982 which amend the Ocean Dumping Act set proper 

 and stringent guidelines for careful congressional review before this could occur. It 

 is our job today, to begin this careful review. 



Again, Mr. Chairman, I thank you. 



Statement of Hon. Edwin B. Forsythe, a Representative in Congress From the 



State of Nev^t Jersey 



Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the opportunity to participate in today's oversight 

 hearing on ocean disposal of radioactive waste. I applaud you, Mr. Chairman, for 

 your commitment and interest in this area. 



Ten months have passed since Congress imposed the two-year moratorium on the 

 ocean dumping of low-level radioactive waste. The purpose of the moratorium was 

 to give the regulatory agencies, the scientific community, and Congress necessary 

 time to further assess the effects of ocean dumping of radioactive waste, U.S. pro- 

 grams and activities in this area, and appropriate policy and management responses 

 to the issues and concerns raised. The hearing today is part of that process. The 

 ocean dumping of obsolete nuclear submarines and radioactive soil, subseabed dis- 

 posal, as well as international radioactive waste dumping activities are all related 

 issues of great concern of many Members of this Subcommittee. 



This whole matter of using the oceans as the repository of man's every increasing 

 pile of waste is one of the most difficult that we on this Subcommittee must address. 

 I welcome the witness who will be appearing before us this morning and look for- 

 ward to learning about your activities and concerns related to the ocean dumping of 

 radioactive waste. 



Mr. D' Amours. I understand that this panel has its own batting 

 order for presenting testimony, so we certainly can accommodate 

 your own desires in that respect. 



We are going to hear from the State Department, from the De- 

 partment of Energy and EPA. I am going to request and require 

 that the witnesses confine their statements to 10 minutes, which 

 means you will have to summarize as best you can your written 

 statements, otherwise there won't be time to complete this hearing 



