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STATEMENT BY 



MICHAEL J. LAWRENCE 



ACTING DEPUTY DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF CIVILIAN RADIOACTIVE 



WASTE MANAGEMENT 



U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY 



BEFORE THE 



SUBCOMMITTEE ON OCEANOGRAPHY 



COMMITTEE ON MERCHANT MARINE AND FISHERIES 



UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 



NOVEMBER 2, 1983 



Mr. Chairman and members of the Subcommittee: 



I am pleased to appear before you today to discuss the 

 Department of Energy's (DOE's) Subseabed Disposal Program. I 

 will give a brief background on subseabed research and how it 

 fits into the overall research activities called for in the 

 Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982; outline the objectives and 

 status of the DOE Subseabed Disposal Program; briefly discuss 

 our international activities in the study of the subseabed 

 concept; and provide a breakdown of our plans in this area with 

 specific emphasis on fiscal year 1984 planned expenditures. 



Introduction 



The Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982, signed into law by the 

 President January 7, 1983, established a national policy for 

 the storage and disposal of high-level radioactive waste. 



