545 



18 



maccer, detined on public health, bLological, or other grounds, by 



the competent international body in this field, at present the 

 International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), as unsuitable for 

 dumping at sea. 



Annex II of the LDC further states that when issuing permits for 

 radioactive wastes not included in Annex I, the Contracting Parties 

 snoula take full account of the recommendations of the IAEA. 



In 1978, at the Fourth Consultative Meeting of Consultative 

 Parties to tne LDC, the IAEA presented a definition of high-level 

 radioactive waste unsuitable for dumping at sea and recommendations for 

 ocean disposal of other radioactive materials. The IAEA proposed 

 definition was adopted by a resolution that states, 



"Contracting Parties to the Convention will apply the Definition 

 and implement to the best of their ability the Recommendations 

 provided by the IAEA." 



EPA beilieves that the United States is obligated to apply the 

 IAEA Definition and should use the Recommendations as minimum 

 requirements, although we might impose more specific or more 

 restrictive requirements. To formalize our international commitments, 

 we are considering incorporating the IAEA Definition and 

 Recommendations into our regulations. 



