542 



15 

 EPA regulations or in international criteria that EPA would apply. In 

 addition, aitnough the requirement to prepare a plan for recovery of 

 leaking containers could be met, the actual recovery of large numbers 

 of containers at tne minimum recommended disposal depth of 4000 meters 

 (2.5 miles) would not be technically or economically feasible. The 

 possibility of leaking containers has to be evaluated in the review of 

 a disposal permit application, and if the evaluation indicates a 

 serious risk to man or the marine environment, then other containment 

 or other disposal means should be used rather than relying on recovery 

 plans. 



We understand from the Congressional Record that the new 

 amendments were passed in order to allow additional research regarding 

 ocean disposal of radioactive materials and EPA' s research has already 

 been descrioed. Although the Amended Act allows dumping for research 

 purposes during the next 2 years, no one has requested a research 

 permit from EPA since 1972, and there are no indications of any 

 interests for research disposals in the future. In fact, dumping of 

 radioactive materials for research purposes may not be technically 

 useful because of the ocean's natural dilution and sedimentation 

 processes which rapidly reduce the concentrations of radioactive 

 materials in water. Thus, disposal of large amounts of radioactivity 

 would be required in order to have measureable amounts in water or 

 marine biota. Such studies might be done better in mesocosm tanks at 

 tne University of Rhode Island, as mentioned earlier. 



While EPA is continuing studies and has added some new research to 



